‘I Never Played Her as a Villain’

House of the Dragon is taking after Game of Thrones, introducing several characters with complex histories that serve as the fantasy drama’s antagonists. Cersei was undoubtedly a cruel villain throughout her eight-season run on Game of Thrones. However, her love for her children was one thing that allowed audiences to empathize with her character.

Olivia Cooke, who plays a similar role to Lena Headey’s Cersei, says she based her portrayal on a similar mindset to the Lannister Queen. During an interview with Deadline, Cooke discussed her role as Alicent Hightower and how she wants people to see the character who helped usurp the throne from Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy).

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“I never played her as a villain. I know she makes morally questionable decisions and her reactions can be quite uncouth, to say the least. But I have to believe in what she does in order to play her with absolute honesty and truth,” Cooke explains. “I really have to empathize with Alicent and know that she’s coming from a place of undying love and protection for her children. I think sometimes the internet discourse can be a bit too black and white.” Of course, characters within the Thrones universe created by George R.R. Martin are a lot of things, but black and white is not one of them. “I read a tweet that I think summed it up really well: ‘It’s not who’s good and evil, it’s who’s your favorite war criminal.”

Related: House of the Dragon Showrunner Talks Key Character’s Death and Season Finale

Cooke Believes Her Relationship with King Viserys Was Real Love

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The relationship between Alicent and King Viserys (Paddy Considine) started off uncomfortably. Alicent was 14 at the time (played by Emily Carey), while her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), went forward with his plans to wed his daughter to the King. Despite their colossal age difference, Olivia Cooke tells Deadline her character eventually grew to have a form of love for Viserys.

“I think she did. I think she grew to really love him. I don’t think she ever was in love with him. I don’t think she had respect for him as a king,” Cooke explains. “I think she thought he was weak. But I think she had respect for him as a father and as a good and decent person. He treated her as well as a man can when he marries a 14-year-old.”

Unfortunately, the King’s reign ended, and the line of succession was immediately challenged by Otto and, later, Alicent. Her son, Aegon II, was named heir to the Iron Throne, which would put in motion the events that led to the inevitable Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Though the first season has ended, fans have a ton to look forward to when House of the Dragon returns to HBO and HBO Max.

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