Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower, has nothing but praise for her co-star and on-screen son, Ewan Mitchell and his portrayal of Aemond Targaryen.
In a recent interview with Los Angeles Times, Cooke highlighted how Mitchell’s performance helped elevate her own work as Alicent.
Quick read:
- Olivia Cooke credits Ewan Mitchell’s performance as it helps her step up hers
- She gets on the back foot when he’s acting
- She praises him to be a wonderful person in real life
“He has such intensity and helps me as an actor in playing Alicent to feel like I’m completely on the back foot. It’s filled with tension trying to guess what he’s going to do.”
She described their on-screen dynamic as charged with tension, which makes sense given the complicated mother-son relationship between Alicent and Aemond. Aemond’s unpredictable and intense nature constantly keeps Alicent (and the audience) on edge.
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Alicent and Aemond (Credits: HBO)
The contrast between on-screen and off-screen
Despite Aemond’s fierce and intimidating presence, Cooke revealed that Ewan Mitchell is the complete opposite in real life:
“Yet in reality, he is the most gentle, lovely, quiet, beautiful person. He’s a joy to work with.”
This contrast between Mitchell’s calm, kind personality and the terrifying intensity he brings to Aemond has been widely praised by fans as well as cast members.
Why their dynamic works so well
The tension Cooke mentions has been one of the highlights of the Green faction’s storyline. Aemond’s growing ruthlessness and Alicent’s attempts to maintain control create compelling drama, especially in Season 3 as the war escalates.
Cooke’s comments show the strong chemistry and trust between the two actors, which translates beautifully on screen. Their scenes together are often filled with emotional complexity and power struggles that make the Targaryen-Hightower family conflict feel deeply personal.
