'Complete existential struggle': 'House of the Dragon' star Olivia Cooke opens up about Queen Alicent's evolution
The first five episodes of ‘House of the Dragon’ saw Emily Carey playing the younger version of Queen Alicent Hightower with precision and now it’s time for the older actors to weave magic on the screen. The ending of Episode 5 marked the end of an era for all the major characters and saw Queen Alicent wearing a fabulous green gown during the celebrations of Princess Rhaenyra’s wedding with Ser Laenor Velaryon. However, that green dress meant that she is ready for the battle even when she was going through a lot of struggles. Olivia Cooke, who will be playing the older version of Queen Alicent, feels that the upcoming batch of episodes will see how the Queen got bitter as time progressed.
The relationship between Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Queen Alicent got sour when King Viserys decided to marry Alicent. The situation for Rhaenyra got even more complicated when the Queen gave birth to a son who has a stronger claim to the throne. However, the revelation of Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) having sex with Rhaenyra was the final nail in the coffin and Alicent knew that she can never trust anyone again in Westeros. The upcoming episode will see the sour relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent reaching a whole new level as we gear up for another massive time jump.
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While talking about her character, Cooke recently revealed that viewers will see Alicent breaking free from the control of those around her and making her own way. However, things are not going to be easy for her because Cooke feels like the character is losing her natural self in order to become something else.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cooke said, “You're seeing her struggle with her womanhood and the power that she does have to play that is completely separate from her husband or her father or even her children. And also just moralistically where she stands when she isn't listening to her father anymore.”
The ‘Ready Player One’ star also noted that her character is finally going to realize the injustices that have been happening to her and things get so much worse that she starts believing that “none of it f***ing matters”. She added, “She looks around her family, and they're all f---ed up. She's like, ‘I've been so perfect all my life. I haven't taken a step wrong, and it doesn't f---ing matter.’ I think what we see in her evolution is this complete existential crisis.”
It seems Alicent is ready to take matters into her hands and will do anything to make her son, Aegon, the heir to the throne. Although Alicent is the Queen, she would definitely need some people on her side, especially when her father, Ser Otto Hightower, is not around to give any advice. But if we go by the books, Otto might be taking a comeback to Westeros once King Viserys dies and he will play an important role in making his grandson the new king of Westeros.
The young cast of ‘HOTD’ did a phenomenal job over the course of five weeks and now, it’s time for the older cast members to show their impeccable acting.
'House of the Dragon' returns to HBO with a new episode every Sunday at 9 pm EST.
