House of the Dragon star hits out at show for key issue in season 2 and she’s not the only one who feels that way

House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke has opened up about the second series of the hit show, admitting she has 'complicated feelings' about a certain aspect of the HBO smash.

The actress, 30, portrays Alicent Hightower in the series, which returned to screens today (16 June).

The second instalment of House of the Dragon - set nearly 200 years prior to the events of Game of Thrones - sees many years having passed for the characters since season one.

However, the same actors have remained in the show, despite their characters supposedly having aged several years.

Olivia has revealed she is aware of the unrealistic age gap between herself and her on-screen children, as well as how odd it seems that her character is supposed to be a grandmother, but she is only 30-years-old in real life.

Speaking to The Times, the actress said: “I have really complicated feelings towards it. If they can create dragons, they could have made me look younger – and then older.

"Or maybe they should have cast actors in their forties? It’s happened now and I’m grateful for the role, but I’ve just turned 30 and I’m playing a grandma. There is a real reticence to see women age on screen. A real reticence.”

HBO/Sky

Alicent's three children - Aemond, Aegon and Helaena - are all played by actors who are relatively close in age to Olivia, which she finds 'hysterical'.

Aemond is portrayed by Ewan Mitchell, 30, while Helaena is played by Phia Saban, 25, and actor Tom Glynn-Carney, 29, stars as Aegon.

With Tom only being a year younger than Olivia in real life, the pair playing mother and son has seemed odd to House of the Dragon fans.

Olivia seemingly agreed with critics, adding: “Because Tom is a year younger and I’m, like, ‘Son, come here! Come on to the bosom!’ It is a strange dynamic that I’m very aware of."

HBO)

She went on to say she doesn't 'want to slag off the show', but she and co-star Emma d'Arcy have 'talked about' the age gap between her and her on-screen children 'a lot'.

In response to Olivia's comments, fans have taken to Reddit to agree with her.

One person said: “She’s right, the age gap is ridiculous. She’s almost the same age as her on-screen son. Criston Cole looks much too young as well.”

Another added: “I mean, she’s pretty close in age to Alicent. I don’t think they should have aged her. It’s more like the kids’ actors are too old, especially Ewan. I love them, so I wouldn’t change anything, but that’s what is immersion-breaking.”