House of the Dragon Cast Reigns on the Red Carpet: Sonoya Mizuno, Olivia Cooke, Milly Alcock & Emily Carey Serve Medieval Glamour in Designer Heels

You’d have to be living under a rock not to know about House of the Dragon — the fire-breathing prequel to HBO’s record-breaking Game of Thrones.

But beyond the political intrigue and dragon warfare, the series has also sparked a new wave of red-carpet fashion moments worthy of the Iron Throne itself.

Created by George R. R. Martin and Ryan Condal, House of the Dragon expands the A Song of Ice and Fire universe by tracing the rise — and eventual fall — of House Targaryen nearly two centuries before Daenerys was born.

The fantasy epic premiered in August 2022, with Miguel Sapochnik and Condal serving as its first-season showrunners, and quickly established itself as both a cultural and sartorial powerhouse.

Eve Best, Emily Carey, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, and Milly Alcock brought strikingly individual interpretations of modern medieval glamour to the House of the Dragon London premiere red carpet (Credit: Ian West / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

From the start, its cast — led by rising stars Sonoya Mizuno, Olivia Cooke, Milly Alcock, and Emily Carey — carried their onscreen regality onto the red carpet, transforming every premiere into a masterclass in modern medieval glamour.

Think Saint Laurent platforms sharp enough to rival Valyrian steel, Thom Browne sequins fit for a queen, and Givenchy boots with dragon-scale attitude.

Alexis Raben, Steve Toussaint, Olivia Cooke, Emily Carey in Prier de Saône, Fabien Frankel, Ryan Condal, Milly Alcock, Emma D’Arcy in Marni, and Matt Smith at the premiere of the new HBO series House of the Dragon on August 11, 2022, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Credit: Dutch Press Photo / Cover Images)

As we look back on the show’s meteoric ascent — renewed for a third season ahead of its 2024 premiere — it’s clear that House of the Dragon has ignited more than just Targaryen drama. It’s redefined how Hollywood’s next generation channels power through couture and heels.

1. Dark Romance: Sonoya Mizuno in Saint Laurent Platforms (5’7” / 170 cm)

Cast as the enigmatic Mysaria in House of the Dragon, Japanese-British actress Sonoya Mizuno—born in 1986 in Tokyo and raised in Somerset, England—began her career as a ballet dancer before gracefully transitioning into acting.

Japanese-born British actress, model, and ballet dancer Sonoya Mizuno portrays Mysaria, a former prostitute who lives in Westeros (Credit: HBO)

She had her breakout film role as Kyoko, an android attendant in Alex Garland’s sci-fi horror film Ex Machina, and followed that with minor roles in large films such as La La Land, Beauty and the Beast, and Crazy Rich Asians.

Before the cameras rolled on House of the Dragon, 5’7” (170 cm) actress Sonoya Mizuno — who wears a U.S. size 8 shoe — brought her own brand of dark romance to the London premiere, merging Saint Laurent sophistication with Targaryen-esque edge.

Sonoya Mizuno wore a sheer black Saint Laurent Fall 2022 gown paired with stacked sculptural bangles and platform sandals at the House of the Dragon Sky Group Premiere in London on August 15, 2022 (Credit: Ian West / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

2. Regal Opulence: Olivia Cooke in Galliano & Thom Browne Heels (5’5” / 165 cm)

English actress Olivia Cooke, born in 1993 in Manchester, stands 5’5” (165 cm) tall and wears a U.S. size 7.5 shoe.

She discovered her passion for performance early on, joining the Oldham Theatre Workshop at age eight before studying at Royton and Crompton Academy and Oldham Sixth Form College.

Continuing her regal fashion streak on the House of the Dragon press tour, Olivia Cooke brought old-Hollywood glamour to the London premiere in a look that channeled both medieval opulence and Galliano drama.

Olivia Cooke stunned in a red velvet John Galliano jacquard gown styled with Garrard jewels, a dark pedicure, and black open-toe heels at the House of the Dragon Sky Group Premiere in London’s Leicester Square on August 15, 2022 (Credit: Ian West / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

Olivia Cooke had her breakout role as a childhood friend of Norman Bates in the popular television show Bates Motel (2013) before moving on to higher-profile film roles, like her role as Rachel Kushner in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), and Samantha Cooke in Ready Player One (2018).

Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Olivia Cooke as Lady Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones (Credit: HBO)

Given her impressive early career, it’s no surprise the House of the Dragon team chose Olivia Cooke to portray Lady Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, Hand of King Viserys I.

Before dazzling in London, Olivia Cooke brought a touch of celestial sophistication to the Los Angeles premiere of House of the Dragon — effortlessly blending modern edge with timeless elegance.

Olivia Cooke shimmered in a custom dark blue sequined Thom Browne gown paired with Garrard diamond jewelry at the House of the Dragon Season 1 Premiere in Los Angeles on July 27, 2022 (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

3. Ethereal Edge: Milly Alcock in Givenchy Shark Lock Boots (5’2” / 157.5 cm)

Born in 2000 in Sydney, Australia, Milly Alcock — who stands 5’2” (157.5 cm) tall and wears a U.S. size 9 shoe — began her acting career in her teens, landing her first notable role as Cindi Jackson in the Australian series Janet King (2017) at just 17 years old.

Among the rising stars on the House of the Dragon carpet, Australian actress Milly Alcock — who portrays Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen — stood out for her ethereal yet modern take on red-carpet elegance.

Milly Alcock turned heads in a white and gold Alexander McQueen Spring 2006 gown adorned with a draped metallic neckline and styled with a Cartier necklace at the House of the Dragon Season 1 Los Angeles Premiere on July 27, 2022 (Credit: DFree / Shutterstock)

Before the House of the Dragon frenzy reached its global peak, Milly Alcock delivered a striking minimalist moment at the Amsterdam premiere — proving that ethereal dressing can still pack a punch on the red carpet.

Milly Alcock turns heads in a white Givenchy Fall 2022 dress paired with Shark Lock black leather boots at the House of the Dragon Season 1 Amsterdam Premiere on August 11, 2022 (Credit: Dutch Press Photo / Cover Images)

She followed that role with Meg in Upright (2019), an Australian crime drama series in which she stars opposite popular comedian Tim Minchin.

Milly Alcock in a black Saint Laurent Fall 2022 gown at the “House of the Dragon” Sky Group Premiere at Leicester Square on August 15, 2022, in London, England (Credit: Ian West / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

The casting directors seemingly have a knack for mining young, up-and-coming stars for shows within the Westeros universe, and the casting of Milly Alcock seems to be no exception to this trend.

Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the American fantasy drama television series House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO)

4. Modern Glamour: Emily Carey in Prier de Saône & Jimmy Choo Heels (5’3” / 160 cm)

Born in 2003 in the Barnet area of London, petite actress Emily Carey — who stands 5’3” (160 cm) tall and wears a U.S. size 7 shoe — is the youngest leading cast member of House of the Dragon.

She made her film debut as a younger version of Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince in Wonder Woman (2017) and later as a younger version of Alicia Vikander’s Lara Croft in Tomb Raider (2018).

Joining her co-stars at the London premiere, Emily Carey brought striking, youthful confidence to the red carpet — proving that bold tailoring and couture drama can coexist in perfect harmony.

Emily Carey commanded attention in a vivid orange Fendi Spring 2022 Couture high-low gown paired with black velvet platform heels at the House of the Dragon Sky Group Premiere in London’s Leicester Square on August 15, 2022 (Credit: Ian West / PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

In 2020, Carey managed to land the role of Mika Cavanaugh in the Netflix series Get Even, which centers around a group of schoolgirls who suddenly find themselves framed for a grisly murder.

At the Amsterdam premiere, Emily Carey turned up the heat with a daring, fashion-forward look that perfectly balanced youthful edge and red-carpet sophistication.

Emily Carey smoldered in a forest-green Prier de Saône cutout gown styled with a jeweled hip chain and silver square-toe Jimmy Choo heels at the House of the Dragon European Premiere in Amsterdam on August 11, 2022 (Credit: Dutch Press Photo / Cover Images)

In House of the Dragon, Emily Carey again plays a younger version of another character, this time as the young version of Olivia Cooke’s Alicent Hightower, the childhood friend of Princess Rhaenyra.

Emily Carey (teenage) as Lady Alicent Hightower and Milly Alcock as teenage Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO)

Looking back, it’s clear this young House of the Dragon cast was never destined to live in the shadow of Game of Thrones—they’ve carved out their own legacy both on screen and on the red carpet.

From Sonoya Mizuno’s towering Saint Laurent platforms to Emily Carey’s sculptural Jimmy Choos, each rising star has used fashion and footwear as part of their storytelling, transforming every premiere into a moment of character and confidence.

As the series continues to evolve, so too do its leading women—refining their craft, redefining red-carpet power dressing, and cementing themselves as the next generation of style icons. Whether commanding attention in corseted gowns or balancing elegance and edge through their heel choices, they’ve proven that power in Westeros comes in many forms—including impeccable taste in shoes.

👠 Want More Celebrity Shoe Inspiration?

If you loved exploring the elevated heels and regal red-carpet moments in House of the Dragon, you’ll find plenty more standout footwear stories on Your Next Shoes. Dive into these curated features to keep the inspiration going: