Olivia Cooke is having the last laugh when it comes to her family watching House of the Dragon. The Oldham-born star quips that her dad has only just started binge-watching the hit HBO series, a whopping six years after she began working on it. Meanwhile, fans worldwide are still debating the merits of Alicent Hightower, the morally ambiguous queen Cooke portrays with such depth and nuance.
From the gritty streets of Oldham to the red carpets of Hollywood, Cooke's career has been nothing short of meteoric. After moving to Vancouver at 18 to land a role in Bates Motel, she went on to star in Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One and the BAFTA-nominated Sound of Metal. But it's her portrayal of Alicent Hightower that has truly cemented her status as one of the industry's most exciting young talents.
Alicent, a complex character based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, has sparked heated debate among fans. Once childhood friends with Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Emma D'Arcy), Alicent's marriage to King Viserys sets the stage for an epic struggle for the Iron Throne. While some viewers initially panned her character, Cooke notes a recent shift in opinion, particularly among queer women and non-binary fans who see themselves reflected in Alicent's journey as she navigates the patriarchal world.
But it's not just online that Cooke faces backlash – she's experienced negative reactions firsthand. At public events, some fans have even gone so far as to request a photo before launching into a tirade about her character. Cooke has learned to take these interactions in stride, often jokingly suggesting they delete the picture they've just taken. This candidness offers a glimpse into the unique pressures actors face when their characters elicit such strong emotions.
Off-screen, Cooke touches on a more personal topic – class identity. Her mother once remarked that she's no longer considered working-class, a comment that resonates with broader conversations in the UK about social mobility within the arts. As Cooke reflects on her own journey from Oldham to international stardom, it's clear that this is an actress who's not afraid to tackle tough subjects and explore the complexities of the modern acting profession.