House of the Dragon star wants you to stop using the word “strong” to describe female characters

House of the Dragon star wants you to stop using the word "strong" to describe female characters

As a seasoned gamer with an extensive background in fantasy role-playing games, I must say that the current state of television is more captivating than any virtual world I’ve ever entered. The recent article about the “Power Women of Hollywood 2024” has left me in awe, especially considering the significant contributions by Geeta Patel, Olivia Cooke, and Emma D’Arcy from HBO’s House of the Dragon.

Recently, Variety has released an article featuring the “Power Women of Hollywood 2024,” a compilation of influential figures in the entertainment industry such as actors, writers, directors, producers and more. Remarkably, three women from HBO’s popular series “House of the Dragon” have been recognized on this prestigious list. One of these outstanding individuals is Geeta Patel, who has directed notable episodes like “The Lord of the Tides.

Additionally, Olivia Cooke and Emma D’Arcy portray Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen in the series. Cooke shared insights about the portrayal of women on television and film, stating, “Instead of using ‘strong,’ let’s describe female characters. The term is overused, reductionist, and condescending.” She continued, “Progress for character development would be acknowledging that people carry burdens, have flaws, are imperfect, complex, and multidimensional. That we age, and sexuality and maturity improve with experience. I’d love to see more authentic representation of these aspects.

I feel like Cooke’s comments track with how thinking on female characters has evolved over the years. Although it’s improved over time, it’s no secret that women make up a minority of influential producers, writers, directors and other creatives in the industry, and often that’s resulted in movies and TV shows where female characters feel like underwritten afterthoughts, or like characters who are only allowed to fit into a limited number of types and tropes. There have been a few waves of pushback against that. In the ’90s and ’00s, that pushback took the form of “strong women” in movies and TV. The first example that springs to mind are the Charlie’s Angels movies from the early 2000s, where the women were tough and badass and powerful but fairly superficial and sexualized in a way that felt pandering.

In a sense, those types of films and series can be entertaining, and perhaps that period was necessary for us to progress further. However, nowadays, there’s a growing desire to portray complex and layered female characters, as suggested by Cooke. I believe the richly developed female personas in House of the Dragon, the successor to Game of Thrones, have played a significant role in advancing this discussion, and I’m glad it’s evolving in this direction.

House of the Dragon star wants you to stop using the word "strong" to describe female characters

Emma D’Arcy wants to see more women and nonconforming people tell stories

Emma D’Arcy, who identifies as nonbinary and prefers “they/them” pronouns, expresses a strong desire to witness increased representation of women, transgender, and nonconforming individuals in the roles of writers and directors. They believe this will lead to fresh and improved narratives because, in their words, “I think that’s how we create new and better stories.

Due to the acclaim garnered by “House of the Dragon,” D’Arcy has emerged as one of the leading nonbinary actors in Hollywood. While they may sometimes grapple with their role as a community ambassador, in the end, their presence can only contribute positively to Hollywood evolving into the inclusive environment they aspire for it to be.

In the upcoming third season of “House of the Dragon,” D’Arcy and Cooke are set to reprise their roles as Rhaenyra and Alicent, with a likely release date in 2026.

2024-10-25 19:41

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