Olivia Cooke Condemns Hostile House of the Dragon Fans

Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower in HBO's Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, has spoken out about the intense and often hostile backlash from some fans toward her and the cast. She described instances where fans request selfies only to express hatred for her character, sometimes with malice, and called some fans' behavior "f***ing horrible." Cooke expressed frustration over the expectation that actors should tolerate such hateful comments and emphasized the support she finds among her co-stars, including Emma D'Arcy and Matt Smith, who handle fan scrutiny with resilience. She believes the strong reactions to her character reflect broader societal misogyny and related real-world issues. Despite the criticism, Cooke approaches Alicent's character with empathy, viewing her as shaped by a patriarchal system and complex circumstances rather than as a villain. The mixed fan response underscores the challenges actors face in portraying divisive roles within beloved franchises with passionate audiences.