'House of the Dragon' star Emma D'Arcy says they didn't watch 'Game of Thrones' before auditioning
- Emma D'Arcy didn't watch "Game of Thrones" before starring in "House of the Dragon."
- The star says they don't think they'd have gotten through the audition process if they had loved it.
"Game of Thrones" became a pop culture phenomenon after arriving on HBO back in 2011, winning countless awards, and propelling its younger actors to international stardom. Although the final season left audiences feeling lukewarm about Westeros, it's fair to say "House of the Dragon" has reignited the spark for many viewers and critics alike.
The prequel series follows House Targaryen as it heads towards an infamous civil war, called the "Dance of Dragons" in the books by George R. R. Martin. So while the prequel is set hundreds of years before "Game of Thrones," its impact is still felt because fans already know that there aren't many Targaryens left by the time the original series picks up.
But series lead Emma D'Arcy recently told Interview magazine that they hadn't watched "Game of Thrones" before their audition for the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen, explaining that they wouldn't have performed as well if they had seen and loved the fantasy drama.
They said: "I hadn't seen it before I auditioned, which I honestly think is the only reason I'm able to do the job. There's no way I'd have made it through the audition process if, at that time, I had the love for the show that I have now. I think I'd have buckled under the pressure."
D'Arcy did say that they were well aware of the show, however.
"I haven't lived under a rock and it was very much in my peripheral awareness. It came at the ideal time, actually, in the run-up to finally shooting," they said.
The star was also conscious of the source material that "House of the Dragon" is taken from, and they read "Fire & Blood" before production started. Although they didn't get through all the lengthy books in Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series.
"I have not read all the books. I've read the book that relates to the work we're making, 'Fire & Blood,'" D'Arcy said. "Not least because it's very exciting to read ahead and get spoilers on your own story. Highly recommend that."
When it came to actually film the series, the British star explained that the "ultimate challenge" is maintaining the "stamina" for the long shoot.
They added: "Finding new resources to mine after 10 days of one emotionally demanding scene is challenging."
New episodes of "House of the Dragon" air Sundays on HBO at 9 p.m. ET.