Olivia Cooke

Olivia Cooke plays the adult Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon. Alicent's sense of duty does not spare her from anger or uncertainty, and Cooke is particularly effective when those feelings interrupt the composed version of herself she is trying to present. Her scenes with Emma D'Arcy give the family dispute a personal history beyond its titles and claims.

Cooke played Emma Decody in Bates Motel and Sid Baker in Slow Horses. Her films include Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Ready Player One and Sound of Metal. She is capable of considerable warmth, which makes the more guarded parts of Alicent's performance interesting rather than merely severe.