House of the Dragon actors Fabien Frankel and James Norton have confirmed that their characters, Ser Criston Cole and Ormund Hightower, share romantic subtext with Freddie Fox's Gwayne Hightower. The revelations come as season 3 explores complex relationships in the Targaryen universe, building on the show's history of queer representation.
Gwayne Hightower's Sexuality Addressed
In interviews with Vulture and Decider, Frankel and Norton revealed that Fox intentionally portrayed Gwayne as having romantic feelings for both Cole and Ormund. Frankel stated, "Freddie Fox and I are aware of our feelings about Gwayne and Cole. I don’t know that the writers feel necessarily that that’s something they want out there, but I will speak on behalf of Freddie and myself: We back that belief as far as people want to take it."
When asked if Gwayne was inviting Cole to "live with him in Oldtown," Frankel added, "Freddie did absolutely see that. Freddie has felt that way; there’s definitely an arc that Freddie has been aware of. He and I have had conversations about Gwayne’s feelings for Cole, and that they have developed into more than just camaraderie and a professional working relationship."
Ormund Hightower's Complicated History
In season 3 episode 6, Gwayne reunites with Ormund, who makes a direct reference to Gwayne's sexuality, saying, "I'm sure you found solace with some of your brothers in arms." James Norton, who plays Ormund, told Decider, "In a way, you don't get to see Ormund's true authentic self until you see him interacting with Gwayne. It was important as well as fun imagining Ormund and Gwayne as kids and what went on, what went down. I think a lot went down."
Norton further explained, "We nodded to a very complicated history. We nodded to it in a couple of moments. Gwayne's relationship with Ormund is in itself a very complex rich place to delve." This suggests that the cousins may have experimented with each other as teenagers, adding depth to their dynamic.
Context of Queer Representation in House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon has previously featured queer characters, including Laenor Velaryon, who was canonically homosexual, and subtext between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, which actors Milly Alcock and Emily Carey played into. The confirmation of Gwayne's queer subtext continues this trend, expanding LGBTQ+ representation in the franchise.
Fans have long theorized about these relationships, and the actors' comments validate those interpretations. The show's willingness to explore such dynamics adds layers to the political and personal conflicts in Westeros.
