House of the Dragon star Harry Collett speaks about his passion for acting, and DJing

With only a fledgling career behind him, Collett says that he is eager to explore lots of characters and lots of projects. "I would not want to feel stuck or tied to a single role," he says.

"I have to admit that becoming an actor was never my initial aspiration," he shares. His journey began at age six when he started dancing, performing at a shopping mall. An agent spotted him and suggested he try acting, which led him to his first audition, leaving him captivated.

After joining the crew of Dunkirk, the young actor worked in Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back) and Dolittle before being cast for his breakout role in House of the Dragon. Today, he resides in London, is close with his mom, and has his dog, Bella. Currently, he writes screenplays and mixes tracks as a DJ. He's also working on an exciting new film that he describes only as "top-secret".

L'OFFICIEL ITALIA: How did you prepare for your character in House of the Dragon?

HARRY COLLETT: During the audition process, they gave me lines without revealing the role, so I prepared as if I were caring for a little brother. I read it with a lot of passion. When I was later told that it was for House of the Dragon, I thought it was really beyond me. I was intimidated by the hype over the genre, but now I just can't believe that I got the role. I didn't read all of the books, but I did research and read the synopses. Fans have an idea about the character they want, and it's impossible to please everyone. Still, I hope to have satisfied at least the most demanding fans.

L'O: What caught you most on the set?

HC: The set looks like a huge organism. As soon as you step on set, your role comes to life. Everything is remarkable, from the costumes to the scenery, especially in this last season.

L'O: Who are your favorite characters?

HC: Of course, Rhaenyra Targaryen, my character's mother. She's the sixth monarch and the first female queen of the Seven Kingdoms. I also love the rivalry between Aemond and Daemon Targaryen. Their relationship definitely adds much excitement to the series.

L'O: What relation does fantasy have in your life?

As a child, I only used to see Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, but after being Jacaerys Velaryon, I fell in love with the genre that has its settings, characters, and an incredible story created by George R.R. Martin. It has been an amazing experience for me.

L'O: Is there any role or genre you would like to explore?

HC: I wouldn't want to be restrained to doing one kind of role. That would be cool to do a superhero role in a Marvel film, come on! I am interested in doing action films and maybe western films because they don't make many of those any more.

L'O: Whom do you want to work with?

HC: I'm really glad to have had the small role in Dunkirk with Christopher Nolan, and I'd totally love to work with him again in a bigger capacity. My favorites in terms of style are Quentin Tarantino, Dexter Fletcher, and Guy Ritchie.

L'O: Do you have some acting inspirations?

HC: Leonardo DiCaprio is an inspiration for me; the way he achieved success so early in life and is so versatile; I loved his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street. I wish to work with him someday. From amongst actresses, I look up to Kate Winslet, and I think Helena Bonham Carter is fabulous.

L'O: Are you interested in fashion?

HC: I love the stylistic journey of Harry Styles. He has unlocked doors for guys to be able to express themselves through fashion. Displaying personality with outfits is great. I appreciate those outfits that hit somewhere in me, and once I put them on, I feel so strong. I am quite obsessed with sunglasses, and I own many. The perfect favorites are Prada, Dior, and Louis Vuitton.

L'O: Interestingly, I actually saw on Instagram that you also DJ, so how did you get started?

HC: Actually waiting to begin shooting season two of House of the Dragon, and it all started from boredom. But I went to see Michael Bibi live - very well-known DJ - so that would be great to have myself a console. So, I self-taught via YouTube tutorials just to get a feel for the thing, and I made some connections in the scene, too. I love playing live; energy exchange with the audience is exhilarating.

L'O: I know you write in your spare time. Do you think you will become a screenwriter?

HC: Maybe! My drafts may never even be out in the daylight, but I hope to write something good someday. When inspiration hits, I scribble it down. I consider myself pretty creative, so I like trying various narratives.

L'O: Best advice received?

HC: Robert Downey Jr. told me, after Mies van der Rohe, that "less is more." Ever since that, my acting has been more natural.

L'O: What would you like to pass on to our readers?

HC: It's never too late to do something different. You might even discover that you are blessed with a creative penchant you didn't know you had. There is always the terror of living with regrets if you don't take that leap of faith. Hang in there. I was out of work for three years due to COVID before I landed on Dolittle. I think I almost gave up, but sometimes that is where your turning point in your career is hiding.