Milly Alcock: 'High-Up' Suggested Acting Coach on House of the Dragon Set

Milly Alcock, the Australian actress who portrays the young Rhaenyra Targaryen in the acclaimed series "House of the Dragon," faced a challenging start to her role. On just her second day on set, a high-ranking individual approached her with a suggestion that shook her confidence. "On my second day on House of the Dragon, one of the, I’m not gonna say who, but someone very high up, pulled me aside and was like, ‘Um, we’re gonna get you an acting coach,’" Alcock shared during her recent appearance on The Tonight Show. She admitted to being "mortified" by the comment.

The Critics Choice award nominee humorously reflected on how the incident grounded her. “It just confirmed everything that I’ve kind of known to be true, [which] is that I’m not very good at my job,” she quipped. “You know what I mean! I was like, ‘I can’t do this. This is terrible. This is a big mistake.’” Despite these early doubts, Alcock's portrayal of the young Targaryen princess, who is King Viserys I Targaryen's daughter and heir, has been well-received. She appeared as a series regular in Season 1 and returned as a guest star in Season 2, which chronicles the decline of House Targaryen. Emma D’Arcy takes over the role of the adult Rhaenyra, who eventually ascends to the throne.

The series, which premiered in August 2022, arrived just over three years after the final episode of the original "Game of Thrones." "House of the Dragon" quickly gained popularity, securing a Season 2 renewal shortly after its debut and a Season 3 renewal in June 2024, even before the second season began airing. The show's success was further highlighted by its win of the Golden Globe for Best Television Series — Drama.

Looking ahead, Alcock is set to expand her acting portfolio by taking on the role of Kara Zor-El / Supergirl in the upcoming "Superman" movie this summer, as well as in "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow" next year. While "House of the Dragon" Season 3 is confirmed, fans are eagerly awaiting an official release date.