Ewan Mitchell, the actor who plays the volatile Aemond Targaryen in HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” is quite different from his character. In person, the 29-year-old British actor is polite, considerate, and always quick to express gratitude. While Aemond is known for his blond hair, Mitchell’s is currently brown – a result of a recent role in Justine Triet’s upcoming thriller, “Fonda.” Despite these differences, Mitchell feels he has a good understanding of the ambitious and ruthless character he portrays on screen.
I really feel for that young boy in the first season. Hearing this from the actor while he was talking from London, it just hit me how much of a tough spot he was in – constantly overlooked and bullied, never even getting a dragon egg! He clearly knew he was starting behind everyone else, and people were mean to him simply for being himself. What’s great about season three is that we’re finally seeing who Aemond really is underneath it all.
Early in the third season, Aemond clearly showed he was taking control, even over his mother Alicent, with a shocking kiss – a moment the show’s creator compared to a famous scene from “The Godfather Part II.” Instead of going after Daemon as planned, Aemond traveled to Harrenhal and brutally killed Ser Simon Strong and his sons. Though victorious in this fight, Aemond was wounded and had to ask for help from the castle’s enigmatic resident, Alys Rivers, before disappearing for a couple of episodes.
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Season 3 of ‘House of the Dragon’ has arrived! Here’s a refresher on everything important that happened in the first two seasons, covering the Targaryen family conflict.
Aemond returns in Episode 5, initially seeming injured and defeated. However, he skillfully protects Alys from attackers, fighting almost instinctively and possibly feeling indebted to her for previously saving him.
Mitchell compares Harrenhal to a luxurious but challenging retreat, similar to the White Lotus. He explains it’s a location where people face their inner demons and confront difficult truths about themselves, ultimately leading to personal reckoning. He sees Alys Rivers as the figure running this intense experience.
As a huge fan, I’m really excited to hear that the show isn’t just adapting the plot from George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” – it’s expanding on it! We’ll be seeing more of Aemond at Harrenhal with Alys, and Ryan Condal, the showrunner, is deliberately digging deeper into that period to reveal details Martin only hinted at in his history of Westeros. It sounds like they’re going beyond just retelling the story and really filling things out, which I think is fantastic.
Condal explains that the story already established Aemond travels to Harrenhal and essentially drops out of the main plot. The books hinted at a connection with Alys Rivers, which served as a starting point. The writers then asked themselves, ‘What can we do with Aemond’s story from here?’
The writers were careful to avoid making the character seem like a typical anime villain. As Condal explains, the character’s appearance – including the eye patch and enormous dragon – and his past actions could easily have led in that direction, so they intentionally worked against that possibility.
As a huge fan, I really appreciated that the writers didn’t want to just show Aemond as this tough exterior. They wanted to dig deeper, explore the pain and hidden weaknesses that made him who he is. It was about understanding why he was the way he was, not just what he was doing.
According to Mitchell, Alys plays a crucial role in Aemond’s personal growth. He points out that Aemond’s dragon, Vhagar, is currently unaccounted for, and questions whether Aemond is worthy of possessing such power if he relies on it completely. Mitchell believes the story needs to explore Aemond beyond his connection to Vhagar, as the dragon previously provided him with purpose and drive.
Mitchell draws a surprising parallel between Aemond and Spider-Man, highlighting the idea that with great power comes responsibility. He explains that Aemond needs to demonstrate control over his abilities – something he strives to do throughout the first two seasons of the show.
You know, he was saying it reminds him of ‘Spider-Man 2’, which I totally get. He’s really into the idea of slowly developing a character over a couple of seasons, and then deliberately taking them through a tough time. It’s a really compelling approach, building them up just to knock them down, and it’s something that movie did brilliantly.
According to Condal, the character is experiencing feelings of isolation and has potentially alienated his family. A woman then enters his life and he feels an immediate, strong connection to her. The upcoming episodes will delve deeper into this relationship, which Condal describes as one of the most surprising, captivating, and emotionally resonant storylines of the season.
Ewan Mitchell first played Aemond Targaryen – Viserys and Alicent’s son, and Aegon II’s brother – in the eighth episode of House of the Dragon‘s first season. Leo Ashton originally portrayed the role, and Mitchell credits him with laying a strong foundation for his performance. Mitchell auditioned after production had already started, initially submitting a self-tape before reading for the producers. At that point, he didn’t yet know which character he was being considered for.
Mitchell remembers realizing the character fit the recurring theme of being the ‘second son’ – someone striving to prove himself, which was central to the show’s first season and continued throughout the series.
Mitchell’s audition really stood out. According to Condal, he fully immersed himself in the character and genuinely frightened everyone present. Condal recalls immediately asking the casting director if Mitchell always acted that way, as it seemed he’d tapped into a very dark emotional space for the role. He was also struck by how much different Mitchell sounded on the phone compared to his intense presence in the audition room.
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In the third season, Rhaenyra Targaryen begins training with weapons, something actress Emma D’Arcy notes was overdue and almost didn’t happen due to a knee injury.
Mitchell researched MMA fighters to help him develop Aemond’s quick and fierce fighting style. He physically trained to build a lean but powerful physique for the character. For inspiration, he also studied paintings like Alexandre Cabanel’s ‘The Fallen Angel,’ which shows a depiction of Lucifer after being cast out of heaven.
Mitchell describes a complex emotional state in his character, noting a single tear that leaves the audience wondering if it represents self-pity or a contemplation of future actions. He wanted to explore the possibility that this character is considering revenge, creating a fascinating contrast with his strong physical build – a blend of fragility and immense power.
In Season 2, Aemond deliberately burned his brother badly and caused widespread destruction in the Riverlands while riding Vhagar. He was fiercely seeking power, even if it meant hurting his own family. According to showrunner Ryan Condal, a confrontation between Aemond and Aegon is coming.
Watching the show, it really feels like ‘Game of Thrones’ paved the way for what we’re seeing now, and honestly, I think that’s a good thing. It’s like the characters are initially spread out, doing their own things, but the story naturally brings them back together – though they’ve definitely changed along the way. The creators were always planning to do something like that with Aemond and Aegon, and it’s cool to see it unfolding.
To prepare for his role as Aemond, Mitchell studied the movements of MMA and cage fighters, focusing on developing a fighting style that was both quick and fierce. He also found inspiration in art, particularly Alexandre Cabanel’s 1847 painting, “The Fallen Angel.” (Jennifer McCord/For The Times)
Mitchell believes Aemond’s actions stem from a difficult upbringing, not simply from being a cruel person. He experienced bullying and overprotective parenting, but lacked genuine affection. Exposed to harsh realities like brothels at a young age, he also suffered a traumatic injury and grew up during a violent civil war. Now, Aemond is facing the consequences of his past.
Mitchell points out that you don’t have to fully grasp Aemond’s actions, or even feel you should. However, you likely still feel something towards him. When he rescues Alys, it suggests there might be a good side to him after all.
Cooke says she loves working opposite Mitchell thanks to his complex approach to the character.
She explained in a voice message that working with him is incredibly dynamic. His powerful presence as an actor puts her, playing Alicent, constantly on the defensive, creating a lot of tension as she tries to anticipate his actions. However, she also shared that he’s actually a very kind, gentle, and considerate person, making him a delight to work with. She also admires his creative work beyond the show, ‘House of the Dragon’.
Before starting Season 3, Mitchell worked on Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.” He’d collaborated with Fennell before, on the 2023 film “Saltburn,” where he auditioned with a piece from a Harold Pinter play. For “Wuthering Heights,” Fennell contacted Mitchell directly, offering him the role of Joseph, a servant whose disturbing behavior has a strong effect on Cathy.
Mitchell explains that he would do anything for Emerald, even something simple like shine her shoes. He admires the depth and liveliness of all her characters and the clear artistic vision she brings to her films, describing her as a truly unique filmmaker. He feels he’s gained invaluable experience from working with her, which has greatly benefited his career.
Mitchell discovered a more relaxed and spontaneous way of acting. In the first two seasons of “House of the Dragon,” he felt restricted in his performance, memorizing lines perfectly. He explained that his character, Aemond, is very calculating and always thinks things through, appearing completely in control. This led Mitchell to deliver the same performance repeatedly, take after take.
Having collaborated with Fennell on projects like “Saltburn” and “Wuthering Heights,” Mitchell felt more comfortable experimenting with his acting. She encouraged him to try different approaches during filming, which allowed her to shape the character effectively in post-production. He carried this approach into his work on the third season of “House of the Dragon.”
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It felt more natural because Aemond is a character still figuring things out, according to the actor. He wanted to discover the scene in the moment, without planning it beforehand, and that approach allowed for a more enjoyable performance.
Condal noticed Mitchell becoming more relaxed in his performance. He explained, “Ewan wasn’t always stiff, but over the course of the show, he clearly grew from his experiences. Having admired Emerald Fennell’s work, I think that challenging environment really allowed him to reach his full potential. We pushed Ewan harder in Season 3 than anyone else on set.”
Since finishing Season 3 last fall, Mitchell has been consistently working on new projects. He traveled to China to film “The Way of the Runner” with director Yutong Bai, then joined Gareth Evans’ remake of a classic Japanese crime film in Wales. He also worked on Luna Carmoon’s second feature and Can Aydin’s first directorial effort, filming in London and Budapest respectively. Most recently, he collaborated with Triet in France, an experience he particularly enjoyed because she used traditional film techniques. Mitchell appreciated the focus this created, saying, “There’s a beauty in capturing performances knowing you have limited time, and it brought a wonderful energy to set.”
Mitchell has always loved performing. As a child in Derby, England, he was captivated by movies like “Citizen Kane” and “Taxi Driver,” particularly because of their complex and enigmatic characters. He values the variety of his work so far, enjoying both large-scale productions such as “House of the Dragon” and more intimate independent films.
He enjoys working and learning as much as possible. He’s particularly excited about collaborating with first-time directors, and recent films like ‘Obsession’ and ‘Backrooms’ have inspired him with their creativity and potential.
Even though Mitchell doesn’t resemble Aemond Targaryen, people often recognize him as the actor who plays the character. He even had someone ask for a picture today while he was traveling! He jokes that it might be his chin that gives him away. He understands he’ll always be associated with Aemond, and while he can’t reveal any spoilers about Season 3, he confirms that Aemond isn’t out of the fight.
Mitchell explains that the most frightening thing about him is his ability to surprise you, even when you believe he’s defeated. He says it’s not if he’ll commit terrible acts, but when. And those actions will be swift and merciless.
He hesitated, carefully considering how much to say. “I don’t want to give anything away,” he explained, “but I’m really excited for viewers to discover what happens to him at Harrenhal.”
2026-07-20 05:33