House of the Dragon has quickly risen to the status of one of HBO's success stories. With that success, however, comes increased scrutiny for its actors and actresses. Milly Alcock commented on how the experience has changed her life in ways she did not see coming, and Alcock says that her newfound fame has come at a price.
House of the Dragon had a fast trend upwards. Despite the ending of its predecessor being controversial, to say the least, House of the Dragon premiered to nearly 10 million viewers, a figure comparable to that of Game of Thrones when it was almost at its zenith.
For newcomers like Alcock, who portrays a young Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Emily Carey, who plays a young Alicent Hightower, the show’s success has meant that millions of eyes are now on them. The two have proved so popular to the fanbase that there are talks for them to appear in flashbacks for House of the Dragon season 2, despite the fact that their characters were recast in episode 6 of the show (Emma D'Arcy for Rhaenyra, Olivia Cooke for Alicent Hightower). Speaking to Nylon, Alcock spoke about what this attention has meant for her. Characterizing it as “weird” and “incredibly difficult,” Alcock told the publication, “I'm trying to not look at it and trying not to engage with it because it doesn't benefit me. It just makes me incredibly anxious. Me seeing my face constantly is straining. No one should have to do that.”
She further went on to question how the socialites of the world deal with it, stating that she has been having a difficult time adjusting, with little help from her personal circle. Coming from a normal upbringing means that Alcock's friends and families work in generally anonymous fields and attend university, Alcock says, so the actress likens the experience to Alice in Wonderland. “It feels like someone's opened Pandora's box and you're kind of just looking through the looking glass.”
The pratfalls of fame have vexed many actors and actresses through the ages. Such a public career inevitably leads to fans poring over the private lives of their favorites. In today’s world, of course, the line between private and personal is more blurred than ever. Parasocial relationships have been booming in the digital world; when cameras are everywhere, celebrities must always keep their personas “on,” or face fans turning away from them.
It’s almost an irony. Alcock plays Princess Rhaenyra, a character whose agency and independence are constantly under question (see House of the Dragon episode 4 of the show for a good example). Her every move is watched closely by the court and commons. The status of “celebrity” has been compared to a modern-day form of royalty so many times that it’s almost cliché, but the parallels between Alcock's experience and that of the royal role she plays are enough to write a thesis on.
House of the Dragon airs at 9 PM EST on HBO on Sunday.
Source: Nylon