‘House of the Dragon’: Olivia Cooke on Alicent's STRESSFUL Start to Season 3 (Exclusive)

[00:00:00]Olivia, it's been a It's been a minute.

[00:00:02]So, catch us up. Where are we Where are we picking things up in season 3?

[00:00:06]>> Um it's carnage.

[00:00:09]It's carnage. Um we are like about 3 seconds after the end of this the second season.

[00:00:17]>> Which is always weird, isn't it, to think about how short a period of time it is, cuz it feels to us like it It's been 2 years.

[00:00:22]>> It's been 2 years and my my the >> We've aged We've aged in real time, but our characters remain >> And my costume tells that story as well.

[00:00:32]It's hard getting back into it.

[00:00:34]>> too.

[00:00:34]>> Um Yes, we we are minutes after the bargain that I'm that Alicent made on Dragonstone to Rhaenyra.

[00:00:45]Alicent is hectically trying to prepare the castle for a a smooth transition of power.

[00:00:52]>> For a light dinner.

[00:00:53]>> For a light dinner. Yeah, it is not going to plan, obviously. It's House of the Dragon.

[00:00:59]>> Olivia, for you, I have to ask as a fan, when you're standing in the middle of a battlefield in armor with swords and horses and all of those extras, is it still kind of a pinch-me moment like I can't believe I get to do this?

[00:01:11]>> No, it really is. Th- Those days especially are. And I think like, you know, childhood boyhood kind of dream situation of like being on a horse with a bunch of dudes standing behind you screaming.

[00:01:22]>> Do you get scared?

[00:01:24]>> Sometimes. I got scared when Tommy Flanagan gives it the when Tommy gives it the boy, cuz he can Tommy's got it about it.

[00:01:30]>> Really? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:01:31]>> But it's it's I mean, it's pretty amazing, to be honest, like um I have to say that stuff is Those days those that Rook's Rest and the some stuff this season and like you do you do really feel like very I genuinely feel very privileged um to be in this in the position to get to do that stuff, cuz I, you know, yeah, as a kid you That's the stuff you do. Watch movies and be like, "Oh man, imagine being a knight in that." You You so yes.

[00:01:56]It is.

[00:01:58]>> Well, I was going to say it looks like she is in full survival mode as the season begins. Talk to me a little bit about kind of the the head space that she's in as things are kind of falling apart around her.

[00:02:09]>> Uh yeah, I mean, she sort of has to be really blinkered and just keep her eye on the the goal, which is to get herself, Helena, Jaheira, out and you know, prepare the the castle and and try and implore people just to let this happen and then, you know, there will be, you know, it will be there will be optimum optimal survival for all involved if everyone just lets this happen. You know, it's been promised.

[00:02:39]Um so yeah, she can't really think about what this means or what's happened before or the things that the things that get in her way during the two episodes, the first two episodes. So, >> [sighs] >> yeah, it's very stressful.

[00:02:52]>> Is there anyone left that she can trust?

[00:02:55]Does she even want to trust anyone anymore?

[00:02:57]>> Helena. I think she trusts Helena.

[00:02:59]>> Yeah.

[00:03:00]>> And Viserys Criston, where do his loyalties lie? I mean, this is a show about shifting alliances. Where where do we pick up >> No one No one shifts them more than him.

[00:03:09]>> What's his [clears throat] end game?

[00:03:12]>> It's tricky, man. It's It's tricky to say. It's It's um He's such an ever-changing uh entity.

[00:03:20]Um I I As the course of the season unfolds, I think you you you understand where that his loyalty has sort of gone back to himself to a degree. And much like Alicent, actually, it's like a mirror in in that way that I think they've you know, I mean, they've been given so much power, these two characters, um and both very unwillingly, I think, to a degree. And then and albeit they're they're not they're not built for it.

[00:03:48]So, so uh and and and they're in a world full of people who are so ambitious and in any way will get to where they need to go at whatever cost. And so, they've realized and and and that includes them to a degree. So, I think they can only rely on themselves. But, I think that's what this show ends up being is a bunch of people who are relying on themselves.

[00:04:08]>> Yeah.

[00:04:12]>> Very true. Now, they've already announced, of course, we get one more season of this. We get season 3 and then season 4.

[00:04:19]Uh we're already starting the rumblings about the beginnings of season 4. What do you know? What can you tell us? What do you know?

[00:04:24]>> say? What they said to me >> Yeah, what do what what do you know?

[00:04:28]>> That is happening.

[00:04:29]>> Oh, that's happening.

[00:04:30]>> Okay, very leading question.

[00:04:33]Um I have no idea.

[00:04:35]>> Me, neither.

[00:04:35]>> I have no idea. I actually know one thing, which is like location where I may or may not be.

[00:04:41]>> Mhm. Mhm.

[00:04:42]>> So, that's nice. Um but, I'm not going to tell you.

[00:04:44]>> No.

[00:04:46]>> Fair enough.

[00:04:47]>> We can't be telling extra.

[00:04:49]We can't be telling extra today.

[00:04:52]>> Maybe next time.

[00:04:52]>> Yeah, maybe next time.

[00:04:53]>> A24, you've got a as they call untitled horror movie coming up. They're on a roll right now with scary movies. What can you tell me about that? Tell us something. [snorts] >> Oh god, what can I tell you? Oh god, I I'm Is there anything even out about it?

[00:05:08]It's like annoyingly, it's a very It's as secretive, I think, as What I will say is it is one of the most amazing casts and scripts I've read in like a very, very long time. And I got to play opposite some really like truly amazing actors.

[00:05:29]Um and yeah, I mean, I I I will be fascinating to see how that movie turns out. Um um yeah, I had a blast making it, though. Um I got We got to shoot in New Orleans. That was my first time in New Orleans.

[00:05:41]Um we shut down Bourbon We shut down like a kind of a quarter [snorts] of Bourbon Street between 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. Which, if you've been to Bourbon Street, is a pretty wild time to be shooting there.

[00:05:54]Um, and yeah. Yeah, I'm intrigued for people to see that movie.

[00:05:59]>> Well, as a horror movie buff, I cannot wait to see it.

[00:06:01]>> Yeah, no, I can't man. Honestly, it's been what an amazing few weeks for horror films, right? Like, unbelievable.

[00:06:07]This whole obsession and and and background situation is incredible. Um, and you know, credit to A24 for backing such young filmmakers to go and make movies like this. And it's you know, long may that live.

[00:06:20]>> Well, I will say this, um, season 2 was got me so pumped for season 3 and I've seen the first two episodes and oh my god, you guys knocked it out of the park.

[00:06:29]>> Thanks, man.

[00:06:30]>> Thank you. Thank you so much.

[00:06:31]>> Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.

[00:06:34]>> [music]