House of the Dragon has featured a lot of time jumps, with more than 20 years passing in the narrative since the show started. Are you ready for the Dance of the Dragons to jump-start after last night’s episode?
Ollie Upton / HBO
Not only have characters been aged up with makeup, but many have been played by multiple actors to mark the passage of time. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the characters at each age in the show…
Viserys I Targaryen
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Paddy Considine plays Viserys from his 30s to his 50s and through the dramatic decline in his health, shown by his body literally falling apart.
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Alicent Hightower
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Emily Carey plays Alicent as a teen while Olivia Cooke is adult Alicent. Alicent’s costuming undergoes perhaps the most dramatic transformation (aside from Viserys), representing her allegiances at each stage in her life.
Rhaenyra Targaryen
Ollie Upton / Liam Daniel / HBO
Milly Alcock plays teen Rhaenyra while Emma D’Arcy plays adult Rhaenyra. Her character and costuming is pretty consistent throughout, although both mature as she ages.
Daemon Targaryen
Ollie Upton / Liam Daniel / HBO
Matt Smith plays Daemon at all ages, although it doesn’t look like he’s grown any older — he has been through a few wig lengths, though.
Laenor Velaryon
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Laenor is played by Matthew Carver as a child, Theo Nate as a teen, and John Macmillan as an adult.
Laena Velaryon
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Laena is portrayed by Nova Foueillis-Mosé as a child, Savannah Steyn as a teen, and Nanna Blondell as an adult.
Aegon II Targaryen
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While Aegon appeared briefly as a toddler, he didn’t truly become a character until he was a teen, played by Ty Tennant. He is now played by Tom Glynn-Carney as an adult — he’s about 21 in the current show timeline.
Helaena Targaryen
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Helaena also appeared briefly as a baby before being played by Evie Allen as a teen and now Phia Saban as a young adult.
Aemond Targaryen
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Aemond is played by Leo Ashton as a child and Ewan Mitchell as a teen (yes, he’s still a teen!).
Jacaerys Velaryon
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Jace is played by Leo Hart as a child and Harry Collett as a teen.
Lucerys Velaryon
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Luke is played by Harvey Sadler as a child and Elliot Grihault as a teen.
Joffrey Velaryon
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Joffrey’s baby and child actors appear to be uncredited. But he’s there!
Aegon III Targaryen
HBO
Aegon III, or Aegon the Younger, is also played by an uncredited toddler.
Viserys II Targaryen
HBO
Another uncredited baby!
Baela Targaryen
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Baela is played by Shani Smethurst as a child and Bethany Antonia as a teen.
Rhaena Targaryen
HBO
Rhaena is played by Eva Ossei-Gerning as a child and Phoebe Campbell as a teen.
Criston Cole
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Fabien Frankel plays Criston Cole across the whole show, and besides shorter hair and slightly more wrinkles, he doesn’t look much different!
Harwin Strong
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Ryan Corr plays Harwin Strong, and we see him in two time periods, 10 years apart. His hair got more luscious.
Larys Strong
HBO
Larys Strong is played by Matthew Needham across the series, and he doesn’t appear to age much — although his clothes seem to get a bit of an upgrade, and he ditches the Strong sigil.
Lyonel Strong
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Gavin Spokes plays Lyonel Strong, and we do see him age on the show — mostly because he has much less hair.
Corlys Velaryon
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[Pam from The Office voice] They’re the same picture.
But actually, Steve Toussaint plays Corlys across the series, and so far, he doesn’t appear to have aged at all.
Rhaenys Targaryen
Ollie Upton / HBO
Eve Best plays Rhaenys Targaryen throughout House of the Dragon, and she doesn’t really look any different after 20-plus years either.
Otto Hightower
Ollie Upton / HBO
Otto is played by Rhys Ifans. He has a bit more grey in his beard now, perhaps, but that’s about it.
