Milly Alcock, the Australian actress who brought to life the young Rhaenyra Targaryen in the acclaimed series House of the Dragon, faced a challenging start to her role in the Game of Thrones universe. During her appearance on The Tonight Show, Alcock shared a daunting experience from her second day on set. She recounted how an influential figure on the production team suggested she should work with an acting coach, leaving her feeling "mortified" and questioning her abilities.
In a light-hearted reflection on the incident, Alcock humorously remarked that the suggestion confirmed her self-doubts about her acting skills. "It just confirmed everything that I’ve kind of known to be true, [which] is that I’m not very good at my job," she jested, expressing the initial shock and embarrassment she felt.
Despite this early setback, Alcock's portrayal of the young Targaryen princess has been pivotal to the series. Her performance as King Viserys I Targaryen's daughter and heir in Season 1 of House of the Dragon earned her a spot as a series regular, while she appeared as a guest star in Season 2. The series, which explores the decline of the Targaryen dynasty, features Emma D’Arcy as the adult Rhaenyra, who ascends to the throne as queen.
Milly Alcock plays Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon. Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images.
House of the Dragon premiered in August 2022, shortly after the conclusion of the original Game of Thrones series. The show's success was immediate, securing a second season just days after its debut and later receiving a third season renewal in June 2024, even before the second season aired. The series also clinched the Golden Globe for Best Television Series — Drama, underscoring its critical acclaim and popularity.
Looking ahead, while House of the Dragon is set to continue with its third season, an official release date has yet to be announced. Meanwhile, Alcock's career continues to soar, with upcoming roles as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl in the upcoming Superman movie and the lead in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow slated for next year.
