Milly Alcock went from inner‑west Sydney to the Iron Throne almost overnight when she was cast as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon. In a new profile, she reflects on the whiplash of that sudden fame—especially how fan intrigue can turn everyday life into something claustrophobic and strange.
Quick read:
-
Alcock says she had “no idea” how big House of the Dragon would become and felt thrown into a world with “no reference points.”
-
She recalls feeling “treated… like a product” as fame grew, saying fans sometimes “invade your space” and “chase you,” costing her anonymity.
-
Despite the attention, she insists she still wants to “take the tube and go to the pub” and keeps her day‑to‑day life as normal as possible.
From washing machine panic to Westeros pressure
Alcock recalls (via Forbes) boarding a near‑empty flight to London during the pandemic, alone for the first time and about to lead one of the biggest TV shows on earth. “I’d never lived alone before, so I was like, oh f**k you, washing machine,” she says, admitting she was “terrified” and that it “was a lot all at once” with no family in the industry to guide her.
After House of the Dragon premiered to nearly 10 million viewers and became HBO’s biggest launch since Game of Thrones, the true scale of what she’d stepped into finally hit. “I had no idea what it would become. And no one in my family works in film, so I didn’t have anyone to talk to who understood it. You’re thrown into this world with no reference points,” she explains.
Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO
When fame feels like being treated like a product
The real adjustment came once the show aired and Alcock’s face was suddenly everywhere. She admits the part she liked least was how fame changed the way strangers behaved around her: “People mean well,” she says. “But sometimes they invade your space, they chase you. You lose anonymity. I still want to take the tube and go to the pub.”
She hasn’t fully given that up—“In London, it’s fine. In other places, not so much. It comes in waves,” Alcock notes—but she’s bracing for another shift when Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow arrives. For now, she keeps life deliberately ordinary: watching Bake Off or Drag Race, walking the city, calling her mum, and cooking dinner. “Most of the time, it’s pretty normal,” she says. “People expect it to be glamorous, but it’s just life.”
Read next: Milly Alcock’s Supergirl teaser is here, and it stars a Game of Thrones alum
The Making of HBO’s House of the Dragon Warner Bros. Shop
Discover the filmmaking secrets behind HBO’s House of the Dragon! With fire and blood, House Targaryen ruled Westeros for over 200 years?a legendary reign depicted in HBO’s House of the Dragon. Now, fans can embark on an epic behind the scenes journey, with this deluxe coffee table book chronicling the production of the landmark television series. An official collection of concept art, interviews with cast and crew, and stunning unit photography, The Making of HBO’s House of the Dragon will be the ultimate account of this hugely anticipated television event.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
If you have any important filming news about House of the Dragon, or if you want to collaborate with us or want to write for us, please drop us a message here.
