Based on the “fake history” book Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin, House of the Dragon includes the ancestors of familiar Game of Thrones families like the Starks, Baratheons, Tullys, and Lannisters, deciding which Targaryen claim they during the civil war. However, some of House of the Dragon’s most major families weren’t featured in the Game of Thrones story, with House Hightower and House Velaryon seeing the heights of their powers during the prequel series’ timeline. There are also more Targaryens and dragons than ever during House of the Dragon, making the family’s conflict all the more devastating.

During House of the Dragon season 1, King Viserys I Targaryen’s succession became a complex dilemma, putting to the test whether the realm would rather see bloodshed than a woman on the Iron Throne. Now, House of the Dragon season 2, set to be released on June 16, 2024, will delve into the action-packed Dance of the Dragons conflict, with major battles, dragon fights, and more on the way. Much of the main cast return for season 2, with some exciting new additions.

The Cast Of House of the Dragon Season 2
Picture	Name	Character
	Emma D'Arcy	Rhaenyra Targaryen
	Olivia Cooke	Alicent Hightower
	Matt Smith	Daemon Targaryen
	Ewan Mitchell	Aemond Targaryen
	Tom Glynn-Carney	Aegon II Targaryen
	Rhys Ifans	Otto Hightower
	Steve Toussaint	Corlys Velaryon
	Eve Best	Rhaenys Targaryen
	Fabien Frankel	Criston Cole
	Harry Collett	Jacaerys Velaryon
	Phia Saban	Helaena Targaryen
	Bethany Antonia	Baela Targaryen
	Phoebe Campbell	Rhaena Targaryen

Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen

Date of Birth: June 27, 1992

• Active Since: 2014

Actor: Rhaenyra Targaryen is played by Emma D’Arcy, an English actor born in North London who broke big in House of the Dragon season 1. The role earned them their first Golden Globe nomination, but they previously appeared in BBC shows and drama films. D'Arcy played a significant role on the show Wanderlust as Naomi Richards and the show Truth Seekers as Astrid. They appeared in the films Mothering Sunday and Misbehavior.

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Character: Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is the eldest child and daughter of the late King Viserys I Targaryen. Rhaenyra is named the heir to the Iron Throne years prior to the birth of Viserys's eldest son, Aegon, establishing the show's conflict. Initially childhood best friends with the Hand of the King’s daughter Alicent Hightower, the two begin a devastating feud after Alicent is married to Viserys and births Aegon, Rhaenyra's contender in succession. Heading into season 2, Rhaenyra is still seen by many as the rightful monarch, leading her faction, the "Blacks," who are opposed by Alicent, Aegon, and the "Greens."

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower

Date of Birth: December 27, 1993

• Active Since: 2012

Actor: Alicent Hightower is played by Olivia Cooke, an English actress born in the Manchester area. Her breakthrough came from the films Thoroughbreds, where she starred alongside Anya Taylor-Joy, and Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. Before House of the Dragon, Cooke played a significant role as Emma Decody in Bates Motel and a minor role on Apple TV+'s Slow Horses. She's steadily risen to prominence with outstanding work over the past decade, and Alicent is her highest-profile character so far.

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Character: Alicent Hightower is the daughter of the King’s Hand, Otto Hightower, who brings her to court at a young age. She bonds with Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in her youth, but has a growing anger as a result of the patriarchal society she’s been raised in. After being married to King Viserys I Targaryen, Alicent becomes the queen consort and has several children whose claims to the throne come after Rhaenyra. As adults, Rhaenyra and Alicent’s feud grows to a catastrophic breaking point, particularly once the realm is separated by to the Targaryen “black” or “green” party.

Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen

Date of Birth: October 28, 1982

• Active Since: 2003

Actor: Prince Daemon Targaryen is played by Matt Smith, an English actor born in Northhampton. Matt Smith put himself on the map with the BBC series Party Animals before rising to international fame as the eleventh Doctor Who in Doctor Who. He's since had a fantastic run of television and film roles, notably earning an Emmy nomination for his role as Prince Philip in The Crown. He's also starred in high-profile films like Morbius, Terminator Genisys, and Edgar Wright's Last Night in Soho.

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Character: Daemon Targaryen is known as the hot-tempered “Rogue Prince,” with his ambitious, mercurial, and daring personality causing much friction with other House of the Dragon characters. As the younger brother of Viserys, Daemon was presumed to be the heir to the Iron Throne until his brother named Rhaenyra his successor. He's since made a name for himself as a hardened warrior and one of the most powerful House of the Dragon characters heading into season 2, representing his now wife, Rhaenyra, in her claim to the Iron Throne.

Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower

Date of Birth: July 22, 1967

• Active Since: 1991

Actor: Otto Hightower is played by veteran actor Rhys Ifans, born in Haverfordwest, Wales, who broke out playing Spike in the 1999 rom-com Notting Hill behind Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. He's since had a successful career as a character actor, starring in independent films and major franchises alike. He played the Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man, which he reprised in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home. In the Harry Potter franchise, he played Xenophilius Lovegood, and he's also had roles in The King's Man, Snowden, Alice Through the Looking Glass, and more.

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Character: Otto Hightower was the Hand of the King to Viserys, having continued his role after the death of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. As the father of Alicent Hightower, the Hand eventually marries his daughter to King Viserys after the death of Queen Aemma. Otto is ed in Westeros for his extensive knowledge and tenure as Hand of the King, which included a vast network of spies, ambiguous motivations, and a feud with Daemon Targaryen. In season 2, he s his daughter and grandson, Aegon II, as a significant force for the Green faction.

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Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen

Date of Birth: March 8, 1997

• Active Since: 2015

Actor: Ewan Mitchell is one of the youngest actors in the House of the Dragon cast, who grew up in Derby and broke out with his role as Osferth in The Last Kingdom. He's had roles in TV shows like The Halcyon and World on Fire, but nothing as enormous as House of the Dragon, where he earned significant praise for his minor role in season 1. Season 2 will see Mitchell take a more prominent role. He's also recently appeared in the popular film Saltburn alongside Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi.

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Character: Also known as Aemond “One-Eye,” he’s the second son of Viserys and Alicent, whose ferocity and arrogance were only exacerbated after losing an eye. Aemond's childhood has pushed him toward a path of vengeance and a desire for power. He's a remarkable swordsman, rides the most powerful dragon in Westeros, and is determined to defeat Rhaenyra and the Black faction in the coming war. His actions in the House of the Dragon season 1 finale were a catalyst to starting the war, as he murdered Rhaenyra's son, Lucerys Velaryon.

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Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen

Date of Birth: February 7, 1995

• Active Since: 2013

Actor: Tom Glynn-Carney is an English actor who had his breakout role in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, playing Peter Dawson alongside actors like Mark Rylance, Barry Keoghan, and Cillian Murphy. He's since appeared in a slew of period drama and war films, including Tolkien, The King, and The Book of Clarence. He's certainly cornered a niche where he's played exceptional ing characters.

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Character: Aegon II Targaryen is the oldest son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Hightower and the younger half-brother of Rhaenyra. Despite her being Viserys's chosen heir and himself having little interest in any responsibility, Aegon II inherits the Iron Throne following his father's death. By the House of the Dragon season 1 ending, Aegon II is King of the Seven Kingdoms and the primary figurehead of the Green faction in the Dance of the Dragons.

Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon

Date of Birth: March 22, 1965

• Active Since: 1994

Actor: Steve Toussaint is a veteran British actor who had his breakout performance in the ITV drama The Knock back in the 1990s. He's since appeared in dozens of film and television roles, primarily minor character work. House of the Dragon is his most significant role, over thirty years into his acting career. However, he's appeared in prestigious shows like Skins, Line of Duty, and Doctor Who.

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Character: Corlys Velaryon, a.k.a the Sea Snake, is the Lord of the Tides and an accomplished seafarer who came to fame for his record-breaking Nine Voyages, which brought House Velaryon enormous wealth and power. The House of the Dragon character is married to Rhaenys Targaryen, the eldest grandchild of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, whose claim to the throne was ed over on of her being a woman. Corlys is a powerful ally to the Black faction in the Dance of the Dragons, controlling the country's most powerful navy.

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Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen

Date of Birth: July 31, 1971

• Active Since: 1995

Actor: Eve Best is an English actress who had her breakout role in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie, where she was in the main cast for five seasons as Dr. Eleanor O'Hara. She's since been on the main cast for shows like Stan Lee's Lucky Man, Fate: The Winx Saga, Maryland, and also ed The Crown's final season as Carole Middleton. Her film roles are fairly limited, though she did play Wallis Simpson in the Best Picture winner The King's Speech. Her most celebrated work has been in stage performances of Shakespeare at the Royal National Theatre in London.

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Character: A fearsome dragonrider who was ed over as heir during the Great Council, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen is known as the “Queen Who Never Was.” Rhaenys warns Rhaenyra about the realm’s resistance to a woman on the Iron Throne after her own experience. Married to Corlys Velaryon, Rhaenys’ son and daughter go on to marry Viserys Targaryen’s heirs. Even after the ing of her children, she and Corlys Rhaenyra and the Black faction in the Dance of the Dragons.

Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole

Date of Birth: April 6, 1994

• Active Since: 2017

Actor: Fabien Frankel is one of the younger of the cast, born in West London, with House of the Dragon being his breakout role. Before House of the Dragon, Fabien Frankel made appearances in The Serpent, Last Christmas (starring Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke), and NYPD Blue. He's already been announced to appear in an untitled HBO miniseries, where he'll play a ing role behind Mark Ruffalo.

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Character: Ser Criston Cole, a common-born knight of Dornish descent, is known for his exceptional skills with his sword, which caught the attention of Princess Rhaenyra during a tournament fight with Prince Daemon. Criston then became the personal shield to Rhaenyra Targaryen and a knight of the Kingsguard before their brief romance, where she refuses to run away and marry him. Following this, Cole becomes a firm er of the Green faction, living a life focused on vengeful, petty hatred for Rhaenyra.

Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon

Date of Birth: January 17, 2004

• Active Since: 2009

Actor: Harry Collett, 20, is the youngest member of House of the Dragon's main cast, who had his breakout role in the 2020 film Dolittle, which starred Robert Downey Jr. Prior to that, he had a brief appearance in Dunkirk and appeared in Casualty in a recurring role. Jacaerys Velaryon is his most significant role to date.

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Character: Jacaerys Velaryon is the eldest dragonriding Velaryon son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon, at least legally. Known to most of the world, Jacaerys Velaryon's true father was actually Ser Harwin Strong, who perished in season 1. Though youthful, Jacaerys is every bit as determined to help his mother earn her seat on the Iron Throne, solidifying him as a future king.