'House of the Dragon' star Matthew Needham says Larys doesn't have a 'foot fetish:' 'It's a display of dominance'
- "House of the Dragon" star Matthew Needham says his character Larys Strong doesn't have a "foot fetish."
- In episode nine, Larys forces Alicent Hightower to show her his feet so he can masturbate to them.
"House of the Dragon" actor Matthew Needham said that Larys Strong does not have a "foot fetish" despite a controversial scene in the first season.
In episode nine, Larys visits the Queen consort Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) to give her some vital information. However, before giving the information, he coerces her to reveal her feet so that he can masturbate at the sight of them.
While many fans were shocked by the scene and said that this scene implied Larys has a foot fetish, Needham recently told People that the scene is more about power.
"I don't think it's a foot fetish like we understand it," he said. "I don't think he's sexually aroused by feet. It's more that he's making her show her feet. You know, this man who's had this club foot disability all his life is making this incredibly powerful person show him her feet."
Needham continued: "It's such a power move. It's a way of reasserting control, putting someone in a box. It's a display of dominance, really making someone feel as ashamed of that part of her body as he does of his. It's associating her feet with something traumatic, which is what he does."
While Needham said he was surprised that the internet lost "its mind," Cooke said in a previous interview with Variety that she did not think the scene would garner such a big reaction because the show is full of violence and explicit nudity.
"I knew on the day, I didn't want this to be gratuitous at all because I know my feet will end up on various sites," she said. "It's wild how you can't predict which scenes people have the biggest reactions to, and unfortunately, it was that one."
Cooke said that Larys' actions were an "assault" since Alicent is left with limited choices in order to get the information she needs to survive the royal court.
The 28-year-old actress said, "It's disgusting, it's demeaning, it's assault. But she's not really left with any choices. She's surrounded herself with psychopaths and murderers. There's no one else to turn to."
"House of the Dragon" season one is now streaming on HBO Max.