Emma D’Arcy is Rhaenyra Targaryen and Olivia Cooke is Alicent Hightower in the adult timeline of House of the Dragon. Milly Alcock and Emily Carey play their younger counterparts before the series’ major time jump. Use this side-by-side guide to identify the rest of the Targaryen succession drama’s actors, characters, family relationships, and political factions.
House of the Dragon is built around two women who begin as close friends and become the faces of opposing claims to the Iron Throne: Emma D’Arcy plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, while Olivia Cooke plays Alicent Hightower. Their younger versions are played by Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, respectively.
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The HBO series adapts George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood and follows the Targaryen succession crisis that develops into the civil war called the Dance of the Dragons. This guide matches the principal actors to their characters, separates the Black and Green factions, and explains the show’s most important recastings.
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| Actor | Character | How to identify the role |
|---|---|---|
| Emma D’Arcy | Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen | Viserys’s chosen heir and the principal claimant of the Black faction. She is Daemon’s niece and, later, his wife. |
| Olivia Cooke | Queen Alicent Hightower | Rhaenyra’s former friend, Viserys’s second wife, and the political leader of the Green faction. |
| Milly Alcock | Young Rhaenyra Targaryen | Rhaenyra before the series’ major early time jump. |
| Emily Carey | Young Alicent Hightower | Alicent during the earlier period of her friendship with Rhaenyra. |
Why did the actors change?
House of the Dragon covers many years, so the production deliberately recasts Rhaenyra and Alicent as they age. Milly Alcock becomes Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra, and Emily Carey becomes Olivia Cooke as Alicent. The change is an age-based storytelling decision, not a replacement caused by a reported production dispute.
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When an image or scene seems to show a completely different Rhaenyra or Alicent, check whether it belongs to the earlier or later period of the story. “Young Rhaenyra” and “young Alicent” are not different characters; they are the same characters played at different ages.
Team Black: Rhaenyra’s supporters
The Black faction supports Rhaenyra’s claim to succeed her father, King Viserys I. Its core members include Rhaenyra, Daemon, the Velaryons, and Rhaenyra’s children.
| Actor | Character | Relationship or faction clue |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Smith | Prince Daemon Targaryen | Viserys’s younger brother, Rhaenyra’s uncle, military ally, and later husband. |
| Steve Toussaint | Lord Corlys Velaryon | Known as the Sea Snake, Corlys leads House Velaryon and becomes one of Rhaenyra’s most important allies. |
| Eve Best | Princess Rhaenys Targaryen | Corlys’s wife and a senior Targaryen whose own history shapes the succession dispute. |
| Harry Collett | Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon | Rhaenyra’s eldest son, heir figure, and important Black envoy. |
| Elliot Grihault / Harvey Sadler | Prince Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon | Rhaenyra’s younger son. The two child performers appear in listings for different stages or credits of the role; episode credits should be used for an exact performer-by-episode identification. |
| Bethany Antonia | Lady Baela Targaryen | Daemon’s daughter, a member of the extended Targaryen family, and a Black-aligned dragonrider. |
| Phoebe Campbell | Lady Rhaena Targaryen | Baela’s sister and Daemon’s daughter, connected to both the Targaryen and Velaryon branches. |
Team Green: Alicent’s supporters
The Green faction backs Aegon II, Alicent’s eldest son, as the rival claimant. Alicent’s family, Otto Hightower, Ser Criston Cole, and other court figures form the core of this side.
| Actor | Character | Relationship or faction clue |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Glynn-Carney | King Aegon II Targaryen | Alicent’s eldest son and the claimant supported by the Greens. |
| Ewan Mitchell | Prince Aemond Targaryen | Alicent’s younger son, a prominent Green combatant, and a dragonrider. |
| Phia Saban | Queen Helaena Targaryen | Viserys and Alicent’s daughter, Aegon’s sister, and—within the show’s royal family—his wife. |
| Rhys Ifans | Ser Otto Hightower | Alicent’s father and a powerful Hand of the King. |
| Fabien Frankel | Ser Criston Cole | A Kingsguard knight whose allegiance becomes central to the Green cause. |
| Freddie Fox | Ser Gwayne Hightower | Alicent’s brother and a later Green-aligned participant. |
The family connections that make the cast easier to follow
- Viserys I Targaryen, played by Paddy Considine, is Rhaenyra’s father. He is also the father of Aegon II, Aemond, and Helaena.
- Alicent Hightower is Rhaenyra’s former friend and Viserys’s second wife. That makes her children the king’s children and Rhaenyra’s half-siblings.
- Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith, is Viserys’s brother and Rhaenyra’s uncle. His marriage to Rhaenyra joins two branches of House Targaryen.
- Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen lead House Velaryon. Their family connects the Velaryon line with Rhaenyra’s children and Daemon’s daughters.
- Jacaerys, Lucerys, Baela, and Rhaena are the younger-generation characters who make the Targaryen-Velaryon family tree especially important to the conflict.
Other important court and war characters
| Actor | Character | Why the character matters |
|---|---|---|
| Paddy Considine | King Viserys I Targaryen | Rhaenyra’s father and the king whose decisions about succession set the conflict in motion. |
| Matthew Needham | Lord Larys “The Clubfoot” Strong | A calculating court operator whose influence grows through intelligence, manipulation, and intrigue. His exact political position is more complicated than a simple Black-or-Green label. |
| Sonoya Mizuno | Mysaria, “the White Worm” | An information broker with an independent network and shifting relationships with the major factions. |
| Jefferson Hall | Lord Jason Lannister / Ser Tyland Lannister | Hall plays twin Lannister brothers. Jason and Tyland are separate characters, so the actor’s two roles should not be merged in cast lists. |
| Kurt Egyiawan | Grand Maester Orwyle | A senior royal adviser and court official in the later cast. |
| Graham McTavish | Ser Harrold Westerling | A senior Kingsguard figure in the early story. |
| Gayle Rankin | Alys Rivers | A later-story figure associated with Harrenhal and Daemon’s storyline. |
Later-season characters
The cast expands as the Dance of the Dragons becomes a wider war. These characters are important additions, but they should not be confused with the show’s original central ensemble.
| Actor | Character | Connection to the story |
|---|---|---|
| Abubakar Salim | Alyn of Hull | A major character connected to the Velaryon storyline. |
| Clinton Liberty | Addam of Hull | A later character linked to House Velaryon. |
| Kieran Bew | Hugh | A commoner whose storyline becomes important to the war effort. |
| Tom Bennett | Ulf | A later character drawn into the Targaryen succession conflict. |
Quick cast identification: actor to character
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Emma D’Arcy | Rhaenyra Targaryen |
| Milly Alcock | Young Rhaenyra Targaryen |
| Matt Smith | Daemon Targaryen |
| Olivia Cooke | Alicent Hightower |
| Emily Carey | Young Alicent Hightower |
| Paddy Considine | Viserys I Targaryen |
| Rhys Ifans | Otto Hightower |
| Tom Glynn-Carney | Aegon II Targaryen |
| Ewan Mitchell | Aemond Targaryen |
| Phia Saban | Helaena Targaryen |
| Steve Toussaint | Corlys Velaryon |
| Eve Best | Rhaenys Targaryen |
| Harry Collett | Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon |
| Elliot Grihault / Harvey Sadler | Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon |
| Bethany Antonia | Baela Targaryen |
| Phoebe Campbell | Rhaena Targaryen |
| Fabien Frankel | Criston Cole |
| Matthew Needham | Larys Strong |
| Sonoya Mizuno | Mysaria |
| Jefferson Hall | Jason Lannister and Tyland Lannister |
| Kurt Egyiawan | Grand Maester Orwyle |
| Abubakar Salim | Alyn of Hull |
| Clinton Liberty | Addam of Hull |
| Kieran Bew | Hugh |
| Tom Bennett | Ulf |
| Freddie Fox | Gwayne Hightower |
| Gayle Rankin | Alys Rivers |
| Graham McTavish | Harrold Westerling |
Spoiler warning: the cast guide beyond the basic identities
Spoilers follow for major character relationships, faction developments, deaths, succession outcomes, and later-season storylines.
The central conflict is not simply a fight between two unrelated royal houses. It is a family succession crisis. Rhaenyra’s claim is challenged by Aegon II, while Alicent and Otto Hightower argue that Aegon’s position should prevail. Daemon’s marriage to Rhaenyra, the Velaryon alliance, and the roles of Rhaenyra’s children all make the dispute both political and intensely personal.
Some characters also resist a fixed faction label. Larys Strong works through private intelligence and court manipulation; Mysaria maintains her own information network; and Alys Rivers is tied to Harrenhal and Daemon’s storyline rather than functioning as a straightforward representative of either camp. Their loyalties and objectives are best understood in the context of the episodes in which they appear.
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The book behind the series
The television story is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, a fictional history of the Targaryen dynasty written as a historical chronicle rather than a conventional character-by-character novel. Readers who want the source material can look for George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. The book provides the historical foundation for the Targaryen succession crisis, although the television adaptation makes its own choices about characterization, chronology, and point of view.
Want the series in your collection?
For viewers who prefer a physical copy, House of the Dragon: The Complete First Season Blu-ray is available in home-entertainment listings, with format and availability varying by retailer and region. Some listings also identify a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray edition. Check the exact format, included discs, and regional compatibility before buying.
How to use this guide while watching
- Start with the two queens: Emma D’Arcy is the adult Rhaenyra; Olivia Cooke is the adult Alicent.
- Use the time-jump check: Milly Alcock and Emily Carey play the younger Rhaenyra and Alicent.
- Identify the fathers and sons: Paddy Considine is Viserys; Tom Glynn-Carney is Aegon II; Ewan Mitchell is Aemond.
- Look for the Velaryon cluster: Steve Toussaint is Corlys, Eve Best is Rhaenys, Harry Collett is Jacaerys, and Bethany Antonia and Phoebe Campbell are Baela and Rhaena.
- Do not assume every court character is firmly Green or Black: Larys, Mysaria, Alys Rivers, and court officials often operate according to their own interests or changing circumstances.
- Check episode credits for disputed or minor listings: This is particularly useful for the two performers credited as Lucerys Velaryon and for later recurring roles.
Series status and cast updates
Updated August 12, 2026: current television listings identify House of the Dragon across seasons 1 through 3, with fourth-season information appearing in some planned or current episode metadata. Season 3 reporting identifies an eight-episode run concluding in August 2026. Future casting, episode information, and availability can change, so this guide should not be read as a claim that the series is complete unless HBO or Warner Bros. officially confirms that status.
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As the show continues, new performers may be promoted from recurring roles or announced for future seasons. That is why this guide distinguishes the principal cast from later-season and supporting characters rather than treating every database credit as a main-cast role.
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Image note: Use licensed press imagery, editorially permitted images, or original actor-to-character graphics. Do not reproduce HBO or Warner Bros. promotional stills without confirming the site’s image rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon?
Emma D’Arcy plays Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in the adult timeline, while Milly Alcock plays the younger Rhaenyra before the show’s major time jump.
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Why are there two actresses for Alicent Hightower?
Olivia Cooke plays the adult Alicent Hightower, and Emily Carey plays young Alicent. The recasting reflects the characters’ aging across the time jump.
Does Jefferson Hall play two characters in House of the Dragon?
Jefferson Hall plays both Lord Jason Lannister and Ser Tyland Lannister, who are twin brothers and separate characters.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWhich House of the Dragon characters are Black or Green?
The main Black-aligned figures include Rhaenyra, Daemon, Corlys, Rhaenys, Jacaerys, Baela, and Rhaena. The main Green-aligned figures include Aegon II, Alicent, Aemond, Helaena, Otto, Criston Cole, and Gwayne Hightower.
The Bottom Line
The quickest match is: Emma D’Arcy is adult Rhaenyra, Olivia Cooke is adult Alicent, Matt Smith is Daemon, Tom Glynn-Carney is Aegon II, and Ewan Mitchell is Aemond. The early time jump explains why Milly Alcock and Emily Carey appear as the younger Rhaenyra and Alicent.
Quick Recap
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