Before Olivia Cooke took on her role in the “Game of Thrones” spinoff “House of the Dragon,” she had tried her luck with another big franchise: “Star Wars.”
During her appearance on Josh Horowitz’s “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Cooke addressed whether she was considered for a role in Rian Johnson’s 2017 “Star Wars” film “The Last Jedi.” She clarified that this was merely a “weird rumor,” but disclosed that she did audition for the character of Rey in 2015’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” a part that ultimately went to Daisy Ridley.
“I did audition a few times for the other one, where Daisy Ridley got [it],” Cooke said. “But you know, everyone and their dog auditioned for that.”
The audition process did not go as she had hoped. “I think I auditioned once in L.A., and then once with J.J. [Abrams]. And I was shit. I was really bad,” she confessed.
Reflecting on the experience, Cooke added, “You know when you go into an audition, and you’re just not bringing it and you’ve let yourself down, you’ve let everyone down in the room?” She praised Daisy Ridley’s performance, acknowledging, “Daisy did such an amazing job, I just wasn’t that kind of an actor at that time. It just wasn’t a fit.”
Cooke subsequently appeared in films like “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Ready Player One,” and the Oscar-nominated “Sound of Metal” before securing her role as Alicent Hightower on “House of the Dragon.” The show is currently in its third season, with a fourth and concluding season anticipated for 2028.
Watch Cooke’s full interview on “Happy Sad Confused” below.
