Milly Alcock was cast as young Rhaenyra based on Emma D’Arcy’s teenage photos

If there’s one thing that the Game of Thrones franchise has always been great at so far, it would definitely be its casting. Even the GOTverse progenitor George R. R. Martin is in awe of them. Game of Thrones has showcased some of the best; absolute gems of the acting industry, and the prequel House of The Dragon has managed to repeat the same feat. In the new book “House of the Dragon: Inside the Creation of a Targaryen Dynasty,” author Gina McIntyre details how the cast and the crew were put together for the Game of Thrones prequel. It tells how casting director Kate Rhode James selected Milly Alcock based on Emma D’Arcy’s teenage pictures.

James said in the book that it’s very important with dual actors playing the same role to have something physically common. She said, “Whether it’s the shape of the nose or the shape of the eyes — it’s got to be something. She’s [Milly] very like Emma in the sense that she is a one-off. She’s unique. She’s not trained — she’s all instinct.”

Condal went on to describe why Emma D’Arcy was cast as Rhaenyra, “I see Emma as a very old soul. They’re one of the smartest actors I’ve ever met or spoken to. A lot of actors, there’s one dimension they bring to a role. Then there are these unicorn actors who can convey subtle emotion through minor changes in just the way they breathe, or a glance. Emma had that. Emma is a completely different entity in a really good way.”

What do you think of the casting choices in House of The Dragon? Tell us in the comments below!

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