Olivia Cooke has addressed the criticism surrounding her age in House of the Dragon and stated that she agrees with it. The actress, who plays Alicent Hightower, is 32 years old in real life, yet her on-screen children are portrayed by actors only a few years younger: Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II) is 31, Ewan Mitchell (Aemond) is 29, and Phia Saban (Helaena) is 27.
Age Discrepancies in the Show
In House of the Dragon season 1, the story spans many years. Teenage Alicent and Rhaenyra are initially played by Emily Carey and Milly Alcock, but after a time jump, the adult versions are portrayed by Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy. By season 3, Alicent is a grandmother, though Cooke is only 32. Emma D'Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra, is 31. The characters themselves are younger: Alicent is around 37, Rhaenyra about 32, and Alicent's children are 18 (Aegon), 16 (Aemond), and 17 (Helaena).
Cooke's Reaction to Casting
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Cooke revealed she was surprised by the casting. "When I found out that Tom Glynn-Carney was auditioning for my son, I was like, 'What? Are they gonna recast Alicent again? And do another time jump?'" She added, "It's odd. Is this just Hollywood, do they not want to see women age? It is a big leap for the audience to make." Despite this, she expressed affection for her co-stars: "I love them with all my heart. I feel spiritually me and Tom are related."
Broader Industry Criticism
In a 2024 interview with The Times, Cooke elaborated on her feelings. "I have really complicated feelings towards it. If they can create dragons, they could have made me look younger – and then older. Or maybe they should have cast actors in their forties?" She continued, "It’s happened now and I’m grateful for the role, but I’ve just turned 30 and I’m playing a grandma. There is a real reticence to see women age on screen. A real reticence."
Cooke's comments highlight a persistent issue in Hollywood, where older male actors often play younger characters, while women face pressure to appear ageless. The casting in House of the Dragon reflects this trend, with the age gap between Cooke and her on-screen children being less than five years in real life, despite a 20-year age difference in the story.
