Summary
Olivia Cookeis now best known for her excellent portrayal of Alicent Hightower inHouse of the Dragon, but before that, her best role was in an underrated 2015 film. Before these projects joined the ranks of herbest movies and shows, Cookegained widespread recognition for her regular role as Emma Decody in thePsychoprequel seriesBates Motel. She went on to appear in a variety of other films and series, including as Samantha/Art3mis in Steven Spielberg’sReady Player Oneand as Sidonie “Sid” Baker in three episodes of Apple TV+’s critically acclaimedSlow Horses.
Cooke inherited a difficult task inHouse of the Dragon, stepping into the series to portray an older version of Alicent, who had been played by Emily Carey in previous episodes. Cooke seamlessly slid into the role and brought the older and wiser Alicent to life, imbuing her with emotional depth, inner turmoil, and a resilience that makes her a consistent highlight of the show. While each new episode continues to prove that Alicent is the best performance in Cooke’s career, this achievement used to belong to her role in a 2015 film with 82% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Real Reason Alicent Is So Angry At Criston Cole Using Her Name
Queen Alicent Hightower corrects Criston for addressing her by her name in House of the Dragon season 2, highlighting her intense feeling of betrayal.
Olivia Cooke’s Best Performance Before House Of The Dragon Was In Me And Earl And The Dying Girl
Cooke’s Character Is The Heart Of The Movie
Me and Earl and the Dying Girlis about an insecure teenager named Greg (Thomas Mann), his best friend Earl (RJ Cyler), andtheir classmate,Rachel (Cooke), who is diagnosed with leukemia. When Greg’s mom (Connie Britton) learns that Rachel has leukemia, she insists that Greg spend time with Rachel, even though they are only acquaintances and barely know each other. Rachel and Greg’s forced meeting sparks an unlikely and deeply moving friendship, as they bond and help each other in unpredictable ways.
Marla Gaines (Greg’s mother)
Victor Gaines (Greg’s father)
Denise Kushner (Rachel’s mother)
Mr. McCarthy (Greg and Earl’s history teacher)
Jon Bernthal
As the titular dying girl,Cooke delivers an equally heartfelt, humorous, and vulnerable performancethat serves as the heart of the movie. Rachel is a complex character who goes through a variety of experiences and attitudes throughout the film, including being blunt about her disdain for phoniness and amusing herself through the antics and shared jokes she shares with Greg and Earl, all while dealing with the effects of her diagnosis and chemotherapy. Cooke brings a sincerity to her performance that makes Rachel feel like an authentic teenager and a quick-witted individual, wise beyond her years.
How Me And Earl And The Dying Girl Prepared Olivia Cooke To Play Alicent Hightower
There Are Surprising Parallels Between Rachel And Alicent
While there are obviously significant differences between Rachel and Alicent, there are parallels between the two characters that arguably prepared Cooke to play herHouse of the Dragonrole.Both Rachel and Alicent are wiser and more insightfulthan most other characters give them credit for, partly due to being younger, and in Alicent’s case, she is often underestimated simply because she is a woman in a patriarchal society. They are surrounded by many immature individuals, from Rachel’s high school peers toAlicent’s entitled sons Aegon and Aemond, along with the toxic and self-serving Criston Cole.
Between Rachel’s leukemia and the slew of tragedies that befall Alicent and her loved ones, Cooke’s characters deal with the injustice of having to put on a brave face while dealing with horrible circumstances. One of the key differences is that Rachel is more willing and able to be more honest with herself and others about uncomfortable truths, although there are moments where Alicent does this as well. Part of the reason Cooke’s performance inHouse of the Dragonis so exceptional is because of her stellar performance as Rachel inMe and Earl and the Dying Girl.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
