Olivia Cooke movies and tv shows span a career that began with British television before expanding into Hollywood films and prestige fantasy drama. She is best known as Queen Alicent Hightower in HBO’s House of the Dragon, a role that has defined her current career phase since 2022.
Cooke was born on December 27, 1993, in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. She trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop and studied drama at Oldham Sixth Form College before leaving to pursue acting professionally. Her first American role came through Bates Motel, a Psycho prequel series that ran on A&E from 2013 to 2017.
In Bates Motel, Cooke played Emma Decody, a high schooler with cystic fibrosis who befriends Norman Bates. Cooke described Emma as someone who saw Norman as a fellow outcast, drawn to his vulnerability because she recognized it in herself. The role required Cooke to perform an American accent for the first time, a challenge she has said made her audition tape feel “horrible” in her own estimation.
Following Bates Motel, Cooke built a film career across multiple genres. She starred in the supernatural horror film Ouija in 2014, playing Laine Morris. The following year, she appeared in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, shaving her head for the role of Rachel Kushner. That performance demonstrated her willingness to commit physically and emotionally to demanding material.
Cooke continued with the dark comedy-thriller Thoroughbreds in 2017, playing Amanda opposite Anya Taylor-Joy. The film received strong critical notices, earning a 75 Metascore. Her next major project was Ready Player One, Steven Spielberg’s 2018 adaptation of the Ernest Cline novel, in which she played Art3mis and Samantha Cook.
Sound of Metal, released in 2019 and widely seen in 2020, gave Cooke one of her most acclaimed roles. She played Lou, the girlfriend and bandmate of Riz Ahmed’s Ruben, a drummer losing his hearing. Cooke received multiple Best Supporting Actress nominations from critic groups for the performance, including from the San Diego Film Critics Society.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cooke discussed the ending of Sound of Metal, where Lou and Ruben separate. She said, “They say to each other that they’ve saved each other’s lives and I think that’s a really beautiful way to mark a relationship that is no longer good for either of them.” Cooke also called the film an “actor’s dream.”
On television, Cooke took the lead role of Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair, a 2018 period drama adaptation. She also appeared in the Apple TV thriller Slow Horses in 2022, playing Sid Baker. These roles showed her range beyond the horror and indie dramas that had defined her early film career.Olivia Cooke Quick Bio
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Olivia Kate Cooke |
| Age | 32 (born December 27, 1993) |
| Birthplace | Oldham, Greater Manchester, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Actress |
| Height | 5 feet 6 inches (1.66 meters) |
| Education | Oldham Sixth Form College (drama); trained at Oldham Theatre Workshop |
| Years Active | 2012–present |
| Notable Works | House of the Dragon (2022–present), Sound of Metal (2019), Ready Player One (2018), Bates Motel (2013–2017) |
| Awards | 2017 Festival Prize – Best Actress (Winner); 2017 Jury Award – Best Actress (Winner); 2021 HFCS Award – Best Supporting Actress (Winner) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $3 million |
| Partner | Ralph Davis (publicly confirmed; co-star in House of the Dragon) |
| Social Media | Deleted Instagram; not active on social media |
Sources: Birth date and birthplace verified by the Library of Congress . Height confirmed by IMDb . Net worth estimate from Bored Panda . Partner information confirmed by The Mirror and Daily Express . Social media status reported by The Mirror . Awards listed by TV Guide .
House of the Dragon premiered on HBO in 2022 and cast Cooke as Alicent Hightower, a character she has played across multiple seasons. The series is a prequel to Game of Thrones, set roughly two centuries before that show’s events. Alicent becomes queen after marrying King Viserys Targaryen, a decision that creates lasting conflict with her former friend Rhaenyra.
Cooke has spoken about the challenges of playing a character who ages significantly across the series. In an interview with The Times, she discussed the industry’s reluctance to depict women’s aging realistically, noting the complexity of portraying a grandmother while still in her early thirties. The role has required her to navigate Alicent’s evolution from a young bride to a calculating political operator.
For House of the Dragon Season 3, a teaser trailer released in December 2025 showed Cooke’s Alicent delivering a stark warning: “Rhaenyra will do what she has to do. And what she has to do will be dire.” The footage positioned Alicent at the center of the escalating Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.
Looking ahead, Cooke has several projects lined up. She will appear in A Talent for Murder, a crime thriller alongside Helen Mirren, scheduled for 2026. She is also set to star in The Girlfriend, a psychological drama series, and Brides, a thriller from director Chloe Okuno. House of the Dragon Season 3 is also expected in 2026.
Cooke’s career demonstrates a deliberate approach to role selection, moving between horror, indie drama, blockbuster science fiction, and prestige television. Her work in Sound of Metal and House of the Dragon has established her as one of the most versatile British actresses of her generation. With multiple projects in production, she remains a significant presence across both film and television.
Q: What is Olivia Cooke best known for?
A: Olivia Cooke is best known for playing Queen Alicent Hightower in HBO’s House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel series that premiered in 2022 . Her role as the second wife of King Viserys I Targaryen has made her one of the most recognizable faces on television .
Q: What was Olivia Cooke’s breakout role?
A: Cooke’s breakout role was Emma Decody in A&E’s Bates Motel, a Psycho prequel series that ran from 2013 to 2017 . She played a high schooler with cystic fibrosis who befriends Norman Bates .
Q: What movies has Olivia Cooke starred in?
A: Cooke has appeared in Ouija (2014), Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), Thoroughbreds (2017), Ready Player One (2018), and Sound of Metal (2019) . Her performance in Sound of Metal earned critical acclaim and several supporting actress nominations .
Q: What other TV shows has Olivia Cooke appeared in?
A: Beyond Bates Motel and House of the Dragon, Cooke starred as Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair (2018) and played Sid Baker in the first season of Apple TV’s Slow Horses (2022) . She also leads the 2025 Prime Video thriller The Girlfriend as Cherry .
Q: What upcoming projects does Olivia Cooke have?
A: Cooke is set to star in Brides, a gothic thriller from director Chloe Okuno inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula . She will also appear in A Talent for Murder alongside Helen Mirren, scheduled for October 2026 .
