Milly Alcock, who portrayed young Rhaenyra Targaryen in season 1 of House of the Dragon, has spoken emotionally about the online harassment faced by Emma D’Arcy, who took over the role as the older version of the character.

In a recent Variety interview, Alcock expressed deep empathy and sadness, repeating:

“Broke my heart. I just felt for Emma.”

Quick read:

  • Milly Alcock expresses empathy towards the backlash received by Emma D’Arcy
  • This hate was directed towards Emma replacing Milly as Rhaenyra
  • Milly calls out the toxicity inside a fandom

Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

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What happened with Emma D’Arcy

After the time jump in season 1, Emma D’Arcy stepped into the role of Rhaenyra. While many fans praised their performance, a vocal portion of the fandom began comparing D’Arcy unfavourably to Alcock. This escalated into toxic harassment, especially during season 2, with some fans attacking D’Arcy’s appearance, choices, and gender identity (D’Arcy uses they/them pronouns).

The backlash included intense online hate, criticism  and even death threats that went far beyond normal fandom discourse.

Milly Alcock watched this unfold and felt genuine pain for her successor.

Alcock’s empathy highlighted the bond many cast members share despite playing characters on opposing sides of the civil war. Her comments reflect the difficult reality many actors face when stepping into iconic roles, especially when replacing a fan-favorite performer. The recasting itself was handled sensitively by the show’s creators, but some fans struggled with the transition and directed their disappointment at D’Arcy in harmful ways.

emma-d-arcy_2-min

Credit: HBO

A message of solidarity

Milly Alcock’s decision to speak out is a powerful show of support. Instead of staying silent, she used her interview to acknowledge the toll toxic fandom behavior can take on performers. With season 3 approaching, Alcock’s comments serve as a reminder for fans to be kinder and more respectful toward the actors who bring these beloved characters to life. Meanwhile, Milly Alcock is currently preparing for her role as Supergirl in an upcoming DC film.

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