Matt Smith Calls Emma D’Arcy “Extraordinary” and Wants More “Chaotic” Scenes With Olivia Cooke

Matt Smith has once again proved he is firmly on Team Green and Team Black—at least off screen. In a new Hits Radio UK interview, the Daemon Targaryen actor showered his House of the Dragon co‑stars Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke with praise, calling D’Arcy “extraordinary” and admitting he is actively campaigning for more scenes with Cooke.

Quick read:

• Smith calls Emma D’Arcy “extraordinary” and says he loves being on set with them because he learns from them “every day.”​​

• He reveals he and Olivia Cooke “are always campaigning” for a shared scene, saying they “never get it” even though he thinks “she is amazing.”​

• The interview reinforces how highly Smith rates his House of the Dragon co‑stars and how much untapped potential he sees in Daemon’s interactions with both Rhaenyra and Alicent.

Matt Smith on learning from Emma D’Arcy

Asked which scene partners have taught him the most, Smith didn’t hesitate before bringing up Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen. “Emma (D’Arcy) is extraordinary. They are an extraordinary actor, really. I just love being on set with Emma, I learn from Emma every day,” he said, emphasising their talent and the way they elevate his own work.

The comment lines up with how Smith has spoken about D’Arcy in the past, repeatedly highlighting their intelligence, presence, and ability to carry long, dialogue‑light sequences purely through physicality and internal life. His choice of words here—“extraordinary” twice over and “learn from Emma every day”—makes it clear that, in his eyes, Rhaenyra’s actor isn’t just a strong co‑lead, but one of the defining creative forces on set.

Olivia Cooke and the missing Daemon–Alicent scenes

Smith was just as warm about Olivia Cooke, though in her case the praise came with a gripe about the scripts. Talking about their dynamic, he explained how rarely Daemon and Alicent Hightower actually share the screen. “Sadly I don’t get enough, we’re always campaigning to get a scene together. Like just give us one scene so we can do a bit of acting together and we never get it. She [Olivia] is amazing,” he said.

Fans have long noted the lack of direct Daemon–Alicent confrontations despite their huge influence on opposite sides of the Dance. Hearing that the actors themselves are “always campaigning” for at least one proper two‑hander will only fuel hopes that House of the Dragon season 3 (or beyond) might finally deliver a charged face‑off between them. Until then, Smith’s comments confirm what the fandom already suspects: the cast chemistry behind the scenes is as strong as anything playing out in the Red Keep.

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