House of the Dragon


game of thrones house of the dragon
House of the Dragon Cast News

House of the Dragon is one of HBO‘s biggest hits in years and it has a huge cast to match. The Game of Thrones prequel series takes place approximately 200 years before the original show and while viewers will certainly hear a lot of familiar family names, none of the characters we watched live or die (or in Jon Snow‘s case, both) over the seasons are in the House of the Dragon cast.

Instead, House of the Dragon focuses on an entirely new cast of conniving, morally questionable characters and we are here to explain them. One of the most confusing things about the show is that there is a mid-season time jump of approximately six years, causing the recasting of a lot of the actors, but oddly, not all of the actors.

As you’ll see below, many of the younger characters have multiple actors listed, while the older characters do not.

First up, the ruling house of Westeros:

THE HOUSE OF THE DRAGON CAST MADE MAJOR CHANGES TO HOUSE TARGARYEN

Emma D’Arcy & Milly Alcock – Rhaenyra Targaryen:

house of dragon cast
house of the dragon

If there is a main character in the sprawling House of Dragon cast, it’s Rhaenyra Targaryen. She is the only surviving child of the current Targaryen King, and her appointment as heir to the throne (unprecedented for a woman) sets off a chain of events that eventually leads to bloodshed.

This recasting was one of many that occurred in the series, leading to some initial confusion when it first happened. The casting of Emma D’Arcy as the mature Rhaenyra from the youthful Milly Alcock is one of the first signs she is moving beyond her nickname of the “Realm’s Delight.”

Matt Smith – Daemon Targaryen:

house of dragon cast

The younger brother of the current Targaryen King, Prince Daemon is known for his volatile temper, skill in battle, and tense relationship with his elder brother. He wields a Valyrian steel sword (much like Jon Snow does in Game of Thrones) and, at the beginning of the show, is the next in line to the throne. Rhaenyra’s naming as heir complicates things for him.

Matt Smith stayed the same throughout the time jump, a welcome sign for fans of the series and the actor himself.

Paddy Considine – Viserys Targaryen:

house of dragon cast

The reigning King of Westeros, Viserys I is an even-tempered man who was given the throne by a council of lords over his older cousin Rhaenys. This member of the cast of House of the Dragon is more concerned with the day-to-day stability of the kingdom instead of glory and is prone to indecision.

In contrast with his Targaryen ancestors who were conquerors and great warriors, Viserys is a mostly gentle ruler who longs to build a great city and fears a prophecy that only kings of his line know.

Paddy Considine played the character throughout the show, in increasing amounts of makeup and CGI to indicate his failing health of a mysterious wasting disease.

Eve Best – Rhaenys Targaryen:

house of dragon cast

Rhaenys was the oldest child of the heir of the previous King Jaehaerys I, but was passed over as monarch due to her gender, in favor of her younger cousin Viserys. She acceded to this in order to avoid a civil war and for the good of the Seven Kingdoms, becoming known as the “Queen Who Never Was.”

Since then, she has married into the wealthy and powerful Velaryon family, becoming the wife of Corlys and co-ruler of Driftmark. Of all the House of the Dragon‘s cast members, she is perhaps the one with the most justified grievance but hides it with a mask of civility and patience.

Eve Best portrayed her character throughout the entirety of the first season, including a climactic appearance via dragon considered to be a highlight of the show.

Tom Glynn-Carney & Ty Tennant – Aegon Targaryen:

house of dragon cast
house of dragon cast

Aegon is the firstborn son of Viserys and his second wife, Alicent Hightower. He is named for his ancestor Aegon the Conqueror, but unlike his legendary forebear, he is known for his hedonism and amorality more than anything else.

Primarily under his mother’s care, he is a petulant and childish man, though he does not actually seem interested in becoming king, preferring to spend his time gambling, drinking, and assaulting maids.

Ty Tennant played Aegon for his initial appearances, followed by Tom Glynn-Carney after the time jump.

Ewan Mitchell & Leo Ashton – Aemond Targaryen:

house of dragon cast
house of dragon cast

The second son of Viserys and Alicent, this House of the Dragon cast member is a quietly intense child who later grows to be one of the fiercest warriors in Westeros, maintaining a black-and-white sense of morality. As one of the last members of his generation of the family to become a dragon rider, he holds a deep sense of resentment against his cousins, which later exploded into terrible consequences.

Leo Ashton plays Aemond for the first part of the season, with Ewan Mitchell later taking on the role.

Phia Saban & Evie Allen – Helaena Targaryen:

house of dragon cast
house of dragon cast

The only daughter of Viserys and Alicent, she is quiet and uninterested in the politics and schemes around her, preferring her study of insects. She has an odd and deliberate way of speaking that seems disconnected from the actual events that are occurring around her and seems to sometimes nearly speak in prophecy.

Helaena is initially played by Evie Allen, and then Phia Saban.

Bethany Antonia & Shani Smethurst – Baela Targaryen:

house of dragon cast
shani smethurst

Baela is the elder daughter of Daemon and his wife, Lady Laena Velaryon.

Baela is initially played by Shani Smethurst, then Bethany Atonia.

Phoebe Campbell & Eva Ossei-Gerning – Rhaena Targaryen:

This House of the Dragon cast member is the younger daughter of Daemon and Laena.

Rhaena is played in her first appearances by Eva Ossei-Gerning and then by Phoebe Campbell after the time jump.

At least at the beginning of House of the Dragon, the Targaryens are closely allied with a lesser, but still influential family:

HOUSE HIGHTOWER

Rhys Ifans – Ser Otto Hightower:

house of dragon cast

Otto is the head of House Hightower and the Hand of the King (the de facto executive officer of the kingdom) under Viserys I. While he appears loyal to his king, he does not have the same sense of duty to peace and order in the kingdom as his ruler. He is willing to play the Targaryen family against each other in pursuit of his own ends.

At times, this House of the Dragon cast member seems to view himself more as the actual monarch than Viserys and schemes to have his bloodline eventually take the throne, achieving a major goal by marrying his daughter Alicent to the much older Viserys.

Rhys Ifans plays Otto Hightower throughout the series.

Olivia Cooke & Emily Carey – Alicent Hightower:

house of dragon cast
house of dragon cast

Alicent is the childhood best friend of Rhaenyra. Alicent and Rhaenyra begin the show as close confidantes, but with the unspoken knowledge that the latter will one day be queen. When Alicent becomes the second wife of Rhaenyra’s father Viserys, it causes a rupture in both their friendship and the established hierarchy of power in the court.

She is loyal to her father and diligent in her role but sometimes chafes at what is required of her. This causes her later to ally herself with Larys Strong to acquire independent sources of information, but at an unpleasant cost.

The younger Alicent is played by Emily Carey, and the older by Olivia Cooke.

The only family except the Targaryens descending from Valyria is:

HOUSE VELARYON

Steve Toussaint – Corlys Velaryon:

house of dragon cast

Corlys is the head of House Velaryon, an ancient family that has formed its power base around the sea. As such, Corlys is the most notable and skilled mariner in Westeros. He is constantly engaged in battle with pirates and the force of the Free Cities of Essos, led by a man known as the Crabfeeder.

He is also a member of King Viserys’s Small Council as Master of Ships, but finds himself constantly sidelined by Otto Hightower’s contingent and his warnings about the safety of the kingdom are ignored.

Steve Toussaint plays Corlys throughout the show.

John Macmillan & Theo Nate – Ser Laenor Velaryon:

house of dragon cast

Laenor is the son of Corlys and Rhaenys and a brave warrior. This House of the Dragon cast member marries Rhaenyra, though their union is fraught and rumors abound about their children.

Both Rhaenyra and Laenor acknowledge their marriage is essentially a political tool, though they do seem to have affection for each other. Over time, Laenor’s feelings of subordination seem to build on him.

Laenor is played first by Theo Nate and then by John Macmillan.

Harry Collett & Leo Hart – Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon:

The firstborn son of Laenor and Rhaenyra, he is aware that the court whispers about his and his brother’s parentage.

The younger Jace is played by Leo Hart, then by Harry Collett.

Elliot Grihault & Harvey Sadler – Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon:

The younger son of Laenor and Rhaenyra, his relationship with his Targaryen cousins has always been fraught and tense with violence.

The younger Luke is played by Harvey Sadler, then by Elliot Grihault.

Nanna Blondell & Savannah Steyn – Laena Velaryon:

house of dragon cast

The daughter of Corlys and Rhaenys, she eventually marries Prince Daemon and bears his children.

Laena is initially played by Savannah Steyn, and then by Nanna Blondell after the time jump.

The House of the Dragon cast also includes a particular body of knights. Traditionally, the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms has a personal bodyguard of the finest knights in Westeros, known as:

THE KINGSGUARDA HOUSE OF THE DRAGON CAST GROUP THAT GOES UNCHANGED

Fabien Frankel – Ser Criston Cole:

Ser Criston is a common-born knight who is chosen by Rhaenyra for the Kingsguard, though their relationship breaks many customs of Westeros. He initially makes a name for himself by besting Prince Daemon in a tourney, which also unfortunately makes him a deep enemy.

Ser Criston is played throughout the show by Fabien Frankel.

Graham McTavish – Ser Harrold Westerling:

Ser Harrold is an experienced knight whose primary duty is to protect Rhaenyra at all costs.

Graham McTavish plays Ser Harrold in the first season of House of the Dragon.

Elliott Tittensor – Ser Erryk Cargyll:

One of two twin brothers who serve on the Kingsguard, it is likely that their loyalties will be tested by the emerging political tension. He eventually sides with Rhaenyra’s faction.

He is played by Elliott Tittensor, the real-life twin brother of:

Luke Tittensor – Ser Arryk Cargyll:

The other twin of the pair, he eventually sides with the Aegon faction of Targaryens.

Both Luke and Elliott Tittensor play their roles for the season.

Ryan Corr – Ser Harwin Strong:

Ser Harwin is famed as an enormously strong warrior, the lover of Rhaenyra, and the father of her children, though Laenor is officially their sire. It is an open but unspoken secret throughout the court, as sullying the reputation of the princess would be lethal.

While the House of the Dragon cast is dominated by the Targaryens and their Velaryon cousins, there are other notable representatives from various powerful families:

THE NOBLE HOUSES

Matthew Needham – Larys Strong:

The younger brother of Ser Harrold, he hides a Machiavellian and amoral mind behind a simple, gentle demeanor. Of all the House of the Dragon cast members, he might be the most dangerous.

Jefferson Hall – Jason Lannister and Tyland Lannister:

The twin Lannister brothers are both powerful members of the court, with Ser Tyland eventually making his way to positions of authority on the Small Council.

Both brothers are played by actor Jefferson Hall.

And finally, there are those who do not belong to any power in the court of Westeros:

INDEPENDENT AGENTS

Daniel Scott-Smith as Craghas Drahar:

Also known as the Crabfeeder, he is a brutal and ruthless military leader who is in constant conflict with House Velaryon for control of the seas. Known for crucifying his fallen enemies with the tide to be eaten by crabs, he is in the pay of the Free Cities of Essos to disrupt the trade routes of the Seven Kingdoms.

Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria:

A former prostitute turned master of information, her motives remain unclear. Although she is introduced in the company of Prince Daemon, she appears to have no particular loyalty to him and sells information to many people for her own ends. If she is allied with anyone, it seems to be to the smallfolk of King’s Landing.

Latest House Of The Dragon Articles


house of the dragon leak

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Teases An Explosive Showdown, See The Proof

HBO has released dueling trailers for House of the Dragon Season 2. The clips encourage fans to choose between Team Green, which …

1 week ago

plot twist

Game Of Thrones Spinoff Cost $35 Million And You’ll Never See It

First released in 2011 and concluding after eight seasons in 2019, Game of Thrones quickly became one of the most-watched …

3 weeks ago

supergirl

Supergirl Replacement Chosen And Fans Immediately Know Her

DC Universe fans may want to pay attention: the Supergirl replacement has been selected—it’s Milly Alcock, known for her engaging …

2 months ago

The R-Rated Disney+ Crime Mystery Thriller Dives Into Dark Secrets

In every good crime thriller, answers to the biggest mysteries are often hiding in plain sight; what if one of …

2 months ago

HBO Has Found A Way To Make Game Of Thrones Shows Without Spending Money

While we await more information about live-action Game of Thrones spin-offs, George R. R. Martin has taken to his personal …

3 months ago

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Premieres Are Exactly What We Expect

In a recent blog post, George R.R. Martin, the renowned author and co-creator of the Game of Thrones universe, told …

3 months ago

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Trailer Brings Hateful And Bloody War

The first official season 2 teaser trailer for the hit HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon has finally arrived, …

4 months ago

house of the dragon

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Already In The Works

While there may never be another book in George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series, House of the Dragon fans …

4 months ago

house of the dragon season 2

House Of The Dragon Season 2: All We Know About The Game Of Thrones Prequel

House of the Dragon has exploded into one of the most popular shows currently, and now we can report that Elizabeth Olsen is being targeted for Season 2 of the series.

5 months ago

game of thrones house of the dragon

TV Shows That Continue Filming Despite Strikes

Yesterday, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) made history when they joined the Writers Guild …

9 months ago

the witcher henry cavill

See Henry Cavill As Game Of Thrones’ New Targaryen

A fan imagined what Henry Cavill would look like in the House of the Dragon universe, and fans are now pushing for it to happen.

12 months ago

house of the dragon

Game of Thrones Is Getting Another Prequel Series

Game of Thrones is eyeing another prequel series based on Aegon I Targaryen.

12 months ago

last of us season finale

The Last Of Us Defeats HBO’s Flagship Show As Season Comes To An Astonishing End

The Last of Us is on track to surpass House of the Dragon in terms of total viewership.

1 year ago

house of the dragon

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Reveals Casting For One Of The Most Important Fan-Favorite Characters

Emily Beecham may have auditioned to play Alys Rivers in House of the Dragon season 2.

1 year ago

hbo house of the dragon

House of the Dragon Season 2 Reveals Way More Dragons

House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal says there will be five more dragons in season 2.

1 year ago

house of the dragon leak

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Return Date Finally Revealed By HBO Boss

House of the Dragon Season 2 will arrive on HBO in 2024.

1 year ago

the last of us

The Last Of Us Has Slain House Of The Dragon

The Last of Us was streamed 837 million minutes, beating out the House of the Dragon’s 741 million minutes.

1 year ago

the last of us

The Last Of Us Trounced HBO’s Other Big Streaming Hit

The Last of Us was the sixth most-watched show on Nielsen’s January 16-January 22 charts, officially outpacing House of the Dragon during the same interval.

1 year ago

house of the dragon

House Of The Dragon’s Best Actor Starring In Sylvester Stallone’s Boxing Movie

Paddy Considine has been cast in the new boxing movie, Giant, which is being executive produced by Sylvester Stallone.

1 year ago

peter dinklage game of thrones

The Biggest Game of Thrones Star Refuses To Watch The Prequel

Emilia Clarke revealed she is “avoiding” watching the Games of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon.

1 year ago

house of the dragon

House Of The Dragon Star Trends For Appearing Wasted At Golden Globes

House of the Dragons star Milly Alcock, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, appeared to be very drunk while on stage accepting the Golden Globe for Best Television Series.

1 year ago

house of the dragon season 2

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Plot Details Revealed?

A writer for House of the Dragon season 2 cryptically referenced the “blood and cheese” plotline of the source material.

1 year ago

Olivia cooke

See Olivia Cooke Tousle Her Hair In A Low-Cut Sparkly Dress

House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke is stunning in this sparkly dress.

1 year ago

game of thrones

Game Of Thrones Author Says Everyone Is Wrong About Dragons

George R.R. Martin thinks Game of Thrones dragons should be the new standard design for the mythical beast, finding large, bulky dragons to be impractical.

1 year ago

house of the dragon

The House Of The Dragon Episode That Made Paddy Considine Cry

Paddy Considine, the actor behind King Viserys on HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon, enjoyed his …

1 year ago

house of the dragon matt smith

House Of The Dragon Defeated By Another Blockbuster Series

House of the Dragon was riding high off that post-Game of Thrones hype but it’s been dethroned by the Sylvester …

1 year ago

olivia cooke marvel

See House Of The Dragon’s Olivia Cooke In Sexy Red Lingerie

Olivia Cooke from House of the Dragon shows off some sexy lingerie in a new post.

1 year ago

house of the dragon finale

Did House Of The Dragon Steal Its Best Scene From Another Film?

House of the Dragon borrowed many elements of a dragon fight sequence from How to Train Your Dragon.

1 year ago

house of the dragon finale

House Of The Dragon Just Broke Yet Another HBO Record

The House of the Dragon racked in more than nine million viewers on Sunday night, marking HBO’s biggest night since Game of Thrones ended in 2019.

1 year ago

house of the dragon

House of The Dragon Showrunner Doesn’t Understand Why Fans Like One Character

House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal is confused about fans’ love for Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith.

1 year ago