Milly Alcock bio, age, height, parents, boyfriend, career 2025

Biography of Milly Alcock

The fierce and determined Rhaenyra Targaryen from "House of the Dragon" could have been written specifically for actress Milly Alcock. She, too, is accustomed to breaking rules and achieving her goals. Her theater dreams started at age six, and twelve years later, she dropped out of school without hesitation for a role in the TV series "Upright", which brought her Australian success and a prestigious film award.

Despite her early success, Milly was still living in an attic and didn't believe in a bright future until 2020, when she sent audition tapes to the producers of "House of the Dragon". Alcock landed a unique opportunity to join the "Game of Thrones" universe—not in a minor role, but as the main character.

Childhood

Milly was born on April 11, 2000, in Sydney. She grew up with two brothers, raised by their single mother who worked in e-commerce.

Milly was a tomboy who never backed down from her brothers or their friends. She started playing rugby to keep up with the boys, but the sport didn't really interest her. "In my family, everyone was obsessed with rugby, and it just seemed pointless to me," Milly later recalled.

Milly Alcock with her mother and brothers

In 2006, Milly first hit the stage at a local church theater. She landed the lead role in the play "Little Red Rocking Hood". She carefully crafted the image of the character, dressed in a denim mini skirt and cowboy boots. From that premiere, she started dreaming of an acting career: "At that moment, I was completely overwhelmed by euphoria. I was standing on stage, thinking I wanted to experience this feeling for the rest of my life."

The girl grew up to be remarkably independent. At age four, she made her mother sit down and announced that she wanted to go to "the real school." The same way, she started taking acting classes and tried to find an agent on her own. At 13, Milly called the elite Newtown School of Performing Arts and signed up for an audition. "If not me, then who will do it for me?" - this phrase became Milly's credo.

Film Career

In 2013, Alcock landed a small role in the popular Australian television series "Wonderland." This was followed by a few more minor roles in television series such as "A Place to Call Home" and "Janet King." She also appeared in commercials for KFC and Cadbury chocolate.

Milly Alcock in the series Home and Away

In 2018, Alcock was offered a more significant project - the lead role in the series "Upright". Milly faced a choice - to refuse shooting and focus on exams in her senior year or to leave the city for three months and graduate without a diploma. She made the bold decision to drop out of school and never looked back. "I knew it would give me much more valuable experience," she said in an interview.

Her instincts proved right: her role as a runaway teen in "Upright", which premiered in 2019, earned her the prestigious "Rising Star" award. Critics raved about Alcock's talent, noting how naturally she held her own on screen alongside the more experienced actor and comedian Tim Minchin. Soon after, the successful series was renewed for a second season. "My Meg is a beautiful and complex three-dimensional character," Milly said of her character.

Milly Alcock and Tim Minchin on the set of The Piano

Despite gaining recognition among Australian audiences after "Upright", Milly wasn't making big money from it. She was still living in her mother's attic and working as a dishwasher at a local bar while hitting every audition she could find. In 2020, she played the lead role in the short film "The Familiars", and appeared in the series "The Gloaming", in which her character was killed off.

Milly Alcock on the cover of the short film Familiars

When she heard about casting for the "Game of Thrones" prequel "House of the Dragon" in 2020, Milly didn't get her hopes up and skipped the in-person auditions. Instead, she just sent in an audition tape. To her shock, she landed one of the key roles in the project. "I never thought something like this would happen to me," she admitted.

Milly Alcock on the set of House of the Dragon

Milly had never watched "Game of Thrones" - she was only 11 when it first aired. For filming, she moved from Australia to London, and her first stop was the library. She spent 6 hours a day studying George R.R. Martin's books that the series and its spin-off were based on. At home, she binged "Game of Thrones" - burning through all 8 seasons in just a couple of weeks. After that, she became a total fan of the show and even tried to learn Valyrian.

House of Dragon. Trailer

The first season of "House of the Dragon" premiered in 2022, with Milly winning the leading role of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in her youth. The actress took on a challenging role: she played Rhaenyra as a young woman, later "passing the torch" to her colleague Emma D'Arcy as the character aged. Milly had to introduce the character to audiences, make her relatable, and establish her complex personality.

Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra Targaryen

In the story, Rhaenyra stood apart from other courtly ladies, proving herself as both a compassionate warrior and skilled strategist. She fearlessly commanded a dragon and refused marriage, all while fighting for the throne and ready to shatter the tradition of male rulers. "She's witty and bold, but she constantly had to play a part to fit into this royal role," Milly explained. Veteran cast members like Eve Best, Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, and Rhys Ifans supported the young actress.

Personal life of Milly Alcock

Milly is quite active on social media, but she prefers to keep her personal life private. Before "House of the Dragon," she lived with her mother and brothers, keeping her dating life completely private. In 2021, she settled in London.

The actress takes pride in her youthful appearance, which she believes gives her an edge over other Hollywood actresses. Her height of only 5′ 5″ also adds to her youthful appearance. But sometimes her baby face works against her. "People think you're really young and don't give you the respect you deserve," Milly says.

What Milly Alcock Is Watching | Recommended By | HBO Max

Milly Alcock now

Following her "House of the Dragon" breakout, Milly's been compared to Emilia Clarke, the "Game of Thrones" star. Critics think the series could be a similar career launchpad for Alcock. She says she drew inspiration not from Daenerys, but from Cate Blanchett in "The Lord of the Rings" and the iconic Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday."

Having traded Sydney for her first London apartment, the actress is now set on conquering both British cinema and Hollywood.

Interesting facts

Milly has one bad habit - she's a heavy smoker. During "House of the Dragon" filming, her nerves had her constantly sneaking smoke breaks.
Milly is interested in photography. She got into photography during lockdown. She regularly shares photos of cityscapes and candid street shots with her followers on social media. Milly admits that she enjoys evoking certain emotions through images.