British actor Matt Smith is being praised for subtly correcting a red carpet interviewer who accidentally misgendered his “House of the Dragon” co-star Emma D’Arcy.
At the “House of the Dragon” Season 2 London premiere, Smith was speaking with reporter Sue Perkins about the Season 1 finale, in which Daemon (Smith) informs Rhaenyra (D’Arcy) about her son’s death.
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Perkins, who hosts “House of the Dragon: War Room,” used the wrong pronouns in the now viral clip when referring to D’Arcy, saying: “She gave you all the credit” for the scene.
“I can’t take the credit, [but] I have to say, aren’t they brilliant?” Smith, 41, replied, using D’Arcy’s preferred pronouns they/them. “They are absolutely brilliant, and you’re in for a real treat with Emma this year. I think Emma’s put in…a really great performance.”
Perkins, 54, apologized for the moment via X, formerly known as Twitter.
“It was a sh—y mistake. Had loads of stuff going on in my earpiece and so wasn’t as focused as I should have been. No excuses though,” Perkins wrote. “These things matter and I feel terrible about it. Am a massive fan of their work and would never want to be disrespectful x.”
The “Doctor Who” actor admitted that filming Season 2 of “House of the Dragon” was difficult because his and D’Arcy’s characters were separated for many episodes.
“It was difficult to do it without them because I love them — a person of real depth and sardonic humor and fierce intellect,” Smith told Variety.
D’Arcy, 31, identifies as non-binary and has spoken in past interviews about being a “trans-masc presenting person.”
The “Truth Seekers” actor admitted that they felt pressure to “present as a woman” at the beginning of their career to be successful in the industry.
“It wasn’t sustainable, and I stopped pretending,” the actor said in an interview with Them. “And weirdly at that point, I got nominated for best actress for the Golden Globes [thanks to ‘House of the Dragon’], which is like beautifully ironic.”
D’Arcy has opened up on how “House of the Dragon” was the first acting job that they “brought my nonbinary identity to work.”
“And part of that was because HBO asked me what pronouns I use, and I thought a lot about whether this was the right time,” the 31-year-old told Interview magazine in October 2022. “The reason it’s important is that there was a point, earlier in my career, where I really worried that it wasn’t possible to be an actor if you aren’t a cis-gendered person.”
“Typically, within casting sites, there are two columns, and I wondered if those two identities were going to have to live separately in order for me to have a career,” they continued. “The reason I decided to be honest in my presentation professionally is that I really hope that younger people who want to do this work know that there is absolutely space and that space is opening up.”
The MAX series is a prequel to the hit series “Game of Thrones” that follows Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, who fights for the iron throne following the death of dad King Viserys (Paddy Considine).
Daemon Targaryen is Rhaenyra’s short-tempered uncle/husband who follows Rhaenyra into war against Rhaenyra’s stepmother Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and half-brother, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney).
Season 2 picks up right where the show left off in 2022.
New characters will be introduced this upcoming season, including Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) and Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), a family name that fans of the original series will feel nostalgic about.
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max on June 16.
