“I was feeling quite emotional”: House of the Dragon’s Eve Best looks back at her last scene as Rhaenys

The battle for the Iron Throne claimed another victim. In episode 4 of House of the Dragon, “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, meets a tragic end. Rhaenys meets her demise amidst an electrifying dragon battle between Team Green and Team Black. Eve Best, the actress who brought Rhaenys to life, reflects on the emotional journey of letting go of her character. As the war between Team Black and Team Green reaches a fever pitch, the stakes have never been higher.

Rhaenys’s Emotional Journey and Letting Go

Rhaenys’s death scene marked an important moment in the series, and Eve Best brought depth to the character’s final moments. According to Eve Best, Rhaenys’s state of mind was one of letting go, a release from the burdens she had carried throughout her life. The physical act of falling off Meleys symbolized a spiritual and emotional surrender, bringing a sense of relief to the character. Best’s portrayal captured the complexity of Rhaenys’s journey, conveying the character’s acceptance and peace in her final moments. Eve Best in an interview with Vanity Fair said,

“Rhaenys’s death scene was actually the last scene shot of the season. “I was feeling quite emotional and a bit like, ‘Oh god, this is going to be weird and intense,’ but I’ve just got to get on and hope that it goes okay,” says the actor, recalling that final day. “In the morning, Ryan [Condal] got all the crew together, and there was a major lovely speech and a farewell thing. It sort of made it all worse because I was feeling even more emotional, even more pressure.” 

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The Challenges of Filming the Final Battle Scene

Filming the epic final battle scene with Maelys was a grueling two-week process that pushed Eve Best to her limits. The actress had to endure a physically demanding shoot, strapped to a mechanical dragon that moved intensely, leaving her feeling phenomenally uncomfortable. Despite the challenges, Best persisted, requesting extra cushions to ease the discomfort. The final scene, where Rhaenys falls off Maelys, was an emotional and intense experience, but Best’s dedication paid off, capturing the character’s poignant moment of peace.

“It was quite intense physically, because it is all CGI,” says Best. “It’s electronic, moving. It’s like the size of a small cottage, really. You’re strapped on what feels like the roof of this small house, and then it starts moving around.” Riding the mechanical dragon, Best said, was “phenomenally uncomfortable,” but nevertheless she persisted. “I kept asking for more cushions because I felt like I just needed more padding on my bum,” she says.”

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