Matt Smith is being praised online for gently course-correcting a red carpet interview in which a reporter misgendered his âHouse of the Dragonâ co-star Emma DâArcy. Smith and DâArcy star on the âGame of Thronesâ prequel series as Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively.
During an interview at the âHouse of the Dragonâ Season 2 premiere in London, Smith chatted with reporter Sue Perkins on the red carpet about the climactic moment in the first season finale where Daemon informs Rhaenyra about the death of her son, Lucerys. Perkins, who hosts Skyâs fan show âHouse of the Dragon: War Room,â incorrectly used âsheâ pronouns when referring to DâArcy. Perks said she spoke to DâArcy earlier on the red carpet and âshe gave you all the creditâ for the scene.
âI canât take the credit, [but] I have to say, arenât they brilliant?â Smith answered, using DâArcyâs preferred âthey/themâ pronouns. âThey are absolutely brilliant and youâre in for a real treat with Emma this year, I think Emmaâs put in ⌠a really great performance.â
DâArcy identifies as non-binary and speaks openly in interviews about being âa trans-masc presenting person,â as they once told Highsnobiety. In an interview with Them, the actor admitted that they felt a pressure to âpresent as a womanâ earlier in their career in order to succeed in Hollywood.
âIt wasnât sustainable, and I stopped pretending,â DâArcy added. âAnd weirdly at that point I got nominated for best actress for the Golden Globes [thanks to âHouse of the Dragonâ], which is like beautifully ironic.â
Smith has long praised his co-star, and he recently admitted in a Variety cover story that part of what made shooting Season 2 of âHouse of the Dragonâ so difficult is that he didnât get as much time to film with DâArcy since their characters are separated for a good chunk of the new episodes.
âIt was difficult to do it without them because I love them â a person of real depth and sardonic humor and fierce intellect,â Smith said about losing DâArcy as a scene partner.
âHouse of the Dragonâ Season 2 kicks off June 16 on HBO and Max.
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