House of the Dragon's Rhaenyra actor Milly Alcock reveals the first scene she filmed for the Game of the Thrones prequel, and it was a major one. House of the Dragon reintroduces audiences to the world of Westeros 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen and 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Other than Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, House of the Dragon also stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Rhys Ifans, Emily Carey, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, and Fabien Frankel.
During this time in Westerosi history, King Viserys I Targaryen sits upon the Iron Throne during a time of uncertainty regarding his succession. After his wife Queen Aemma Arryn dies during childbirth along with their newborn son, Viserys anoints his only living child, Rhaenyra, as his heir to the Iron Throne, effectively setting the stage for the upcoming Targaryen war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons. Prior to the ceremony at the end of House of the Dragon episode 1, Viserys and Rhaenyra have an important conversation before she can be named heir.
During a recent appearance on The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon after episode 3, Alcock revealed the very first scene she filmed for the prequel, and it happened to be the scene with her and Considine in the skull room at the end of the first episode. In it, Viserys tells Rhaenyra about Aegon the Conqueror's prophetic dream and how this prophecy has been passed down from king to heir for generations. Alcock recalls shaking with fear before filming the scene, not only since it was her first day, but because of the scene's massive importance. Read what she shared below:
"The end of the first episode, I'm in the skull room with Paddy and he's telling me something very, very important and that was my first day and I was shaking. I was so scared."
It's understandable that Alcock was shaking with fear before filming this particular scene, not only because it was her first day on the highly-anticipated Game of Thrones prequel, but because of the scene's overall importance. Viserys tells Rhaenyra about Aegon the Conqueror's prophetic dream envisioning a Great Winter coming down from the North and bringing a threat that can only be defeated with a Targaryen on the Iron Throne. The scene references the threat of the White Walkers seen hundreds of years later in Game of Thrones as well as the name of George R.R. Martin's book series, A Song of Ice and Fire.
Despite being thrown straight into the fire on House of the Dragon, Alcock held her own opposite a much more experienced actor in Considine. With each passing episode, the young actor has only received more praise and critical acclaim for her performance. Audiences best enjoy Alcock's performance as Rhaenyra while it lasts, though, as she and other House of the Dragon actors will soon be recast following another time jump. In the role of Rhaenyra on House of the Dragon, Alcock will soon be replaced by Emma D'Arcy.
Source: The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon