Gayle Rankin, who plays the mysterious Alys Rivers in HBO’s House of the Dragon, says she now gets offered many “witchy” roles. The Scottish actress opened up about being typecast and what fans can expect from her character in Season 3.
Since joining House of the Dragon in Season 2, Gayle Rankin has brought the enigmatic Alys Rivers to life. The character, a healer at Harrenhal with supernatural abilities, quickly became a fan favorite. But with that role came a new pattern in Rankin’s career. She now finds herself receiving offers for similar witch-like characters.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Rankin spoke honestly about this shift. She laughed when asked if she has been offered more “witchy” roles since her breakthrough as Alys Rivers. “That’s been a consistent thread. Very typecast,” she said, tongue in cheek. But she does not see this as a problem. Rankin added, “I may have a mysterious, ephemeral quality as an actor and a person. I love playing these kinds of women and would continue to play witches in any form.”
Gayle Rankin Embraces the Witch Label as a ‘Gift’
For Rankin, playing Alys Rivers is more than just a job. She sees it as a powerful opportunity. In the world of Fire & Blood, the source material for the show, Alys wears the witch tag as a badge of honour. Rankin called it a “gift” to embody that character.
“It’s an amazing gift for me as an actor and a woman (to play her). I try to live up to that and embody it,” she said. She explained that she does not feel pigeonholed. Instead, she sees the role as a chance to reclaim the idea of what a witch represents. “So many women struggle with that. It’s been really helpful to me in my life, and I kind of embody it,” she added.
The actress, known for her roles in GLOW and Perry Mason, has built a career on playing complex characters. Her performance as Sheila the She-Wolf in GLOW earned her two SAG ensemble award nominations. She also played Queen Victoria in The Greatest Showman and has worked extensively on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination for her performance as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Now, with House of the Dragon, she has found a role that resonates deeply with her.
Season 3 Will Finally Reveal Who Alys Rivers Really Is
One of the biggest mysteries in House of the Dragon has been Alys Rivers. Season 2 gave little background on her origins. Even George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book offers very little concrete information about her. But that is about to change.
Rankin recently confirmed that Season 3 will finally explain who Alys Rivers is and where she comes from. In an interview with ScreenRant, she said it was “imperative” for her to make personal sense of the character’s backstory.
“It was so imperative for me to try to make sense, personal sense, of who she is, where she’s come from. And that’s been really exciting to work with Ryan [Condal] and the entire writing team on. And in season 2 it wasn’t exactly explicit, but things will develop, things will be exposed,” Rankin told ScreenRant.
She added that there is not much backstory in the book, so she and the writers discussed details to help her get into character. “I need to have something really grounding and clear for myself. So that totally exists. It’s just like for this moment, it’s not totally out in the open,” she said.
At the Season 3 premiere in London, Rankin teased that viewers will get to know Alys better. “We really get to know who she is a little bit more, and she has a lot of depth,” she shared.
Fan Theories Link Alys Rivers to Game of Thrones’ Melisandre
Since Alys was introduced, fans have created countless theories about her character. One popular theory suggests she is actually Melisandre, the Red Priestess from Game of Thrones.
The theory makes sense to many viewers. Both characters are ageless, use prophecy and dark magic, and influence powerful men. In House of the Dragon, Alys gives visions and counsels major players, much like Melisandre did centuries later with Stannis Baratheon and Jon Snow.
Rankin has heard of the fan theory. She said, “I think a part of the mystery and the excitement of building this character was letting her do her own thing and letting the fans have their own idea about her. But we have a clear idea. Especially this season, we get a much clearer idea about who she actually is.”
Some cast members have also expressed interest in the theory. Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower, said she did not want to debunk it. Emma D’Arcy and others have also joked about it, suggesting the idea is not completely far-fetched.
However, there are strong arguments against the theory. Melisandre comes from overseas and her magic stems from the religion of the Lord of Light. Alys, on the other hand, is fiercely protective of Weirwood trees and the old gods of Westeros. She gives Daemon a potion that likely includes Weirwood seeds, much like the concoction that unlocked Bran Stark’s powers.
Alys and Aemond’s Relationship Takes Center Stage in Season 3
In the books, Alys Rivers has a significant relationship with Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). Season 3 will finally show their chemistry on screen.
Rankin spoke about working with Mitchell. “Ewan is so extraordinary. I came into the show one year after everybody else, so I was very familiar with his work. We come from a similar approach to work, so it was really beautiful,” she said.
According to the books, after Daemon leaves Harrenhal, Aemond captures the castle. He kills the remaining members of House Strong but spares Alys. The two begin an intimate relationship, which eventually leads to a pregnancy.
Rankin told CBR that Alys and Aemond’s relationship will be different from her connection with Daemon in Season 2. “I think the most enticing thing about the relationship on paper, knowing it was going to happen and occur, was how it was going to differ from her relationship with Daemon. It had to, because they’re different people,” she said.
She added, “I think there’s a lot of juicy, exciting, surprising stuff that comes about, and she learns a lot about herself.”
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What to Expect from House of the Dragon Season 3
House of the Dragon Season 3 is set to premiere on June 21, 2026 on HBO and will stream on HBO Max. In India, it will stream on JioHotstar.
The new season will portray the infamous Gullet war and the ongoing Targaryen civil war between Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon II. Aemond is eventually spiraling into madness, and his arrival at Harrenhal will set up his mysterious arc with Alys.
Rankin described the third season as “hot” and promised a big journey for her character. She also mentioned that she researched Celtic witches and women who were misunderstood by society to prepare for the role.
“There’s always this dichotomy,” she said.
With Alys Rivers’ backstory finally being revealed and her relationship with Aemond unfolding, Season 3 promises to be a game-changer for the character and the series.
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