Olivia Cooke Explains Why She Left Social Media Before ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3

Olivia Cooke has played one of the most divisive characters on television, and the ‘House of the Dragon’ star is now being candid about the online fandom that comes with that role. As Queen Alicent Hightower in HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel, Cooke has been at the center of intense debate since the series began.

That debate grew louder this year. ‘House of the Dragon’ returned for its 8-episode third season on June 21, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max. The season delivered dragon battles and big war moments, but it also brought controversial Alicent storylines that fueled plenty of reaction on social media.

Now Cooke has explained why she wasn’t online for much of it. In a new interview with GQ, the 32-year-old actress revealed that she deactivated her social media accounts ahead of the season 3 premiere, partly because of the tone of the show’s fan discourse.

She didn’t hold back in describing it. Cooke told the magazine that the fandom contains a great deal of ugliness, adding that it is steeped in misogyny and that there is a lot of racism within it. She said she tries to give it as little space in her mind as possible.

The first trailer for ‘HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’ Season 3 has been released. Releasing in June on HBO. https://t.co/7itf2HEXWN

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 19, 2026

Cooke also explained that her social media use had reached a point where it simply wasn’t nourishing. She has since returned to Instagram, but she still sees celebrity culture on social media as a growing problem.

Her concerns go beyond one fandom. Cooke told GQ that the celebrity side of acting has grown into something much bigger than it should be. She argued that shows and films are made for escapism, but also because they are artful and creative, not for followers, brand deals, or free products, though she admitted with a laugh that the perks can be nice sometimes.

The new trailer for ‘HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’ Season 3 has been released. Releasing June 21 on HBO. https://t.co/FxmvvFtW9I

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 27, 2026

It is a refreshingly honest take from someone at the center of one of TV’s biggest franchises. Cooke also used the break to focus on her mental health this year. Part of the frustration comes from how fans read her work. Some viewers built elaborate theories not only about her character but also about Cooke herself and her relationships with directors.

According to GQ, some Reddit users even claimed she was being mistreated by a director on set. Cooke rejected that idea. She said some of those interpretations catch fire and end up bearing no resemblance to what was actually shown on screen.

The Final Trailer for ‘HOUSE OF THE DRAGON’ Season 2 Premieres June 16 on HBO. https://t.co/1yw6IyZHhg

— westerosies (@westerosies) May 14, 2024

She also spoke warmly about director Clare Kilner, who directed episodes 2, 3 and 4 this season. Cooke praised Kilner as proof that a director doesn’t need to dominate a set to get great work.

Alicent’s place in the story makes her an easy target. ‘House of the Dragon’ centers on 2 warring female leaders, Alicent and Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen, and audience sympathies have shifted between them over the seasons.

That kind of drama is what makes the show compelling, but it also invites heated arguments. When those arguments shift from fictional characters to the real people playing them, it becomes something else entirely. Cooke is enjoying some time away from the spotlight for now. She is in the middle of a 6-month break after back-to-back production on ‘House of the Dragon’ and ‘Slow Horses’.

Alicent’s story isn’t over yet. Ahead of season 3, HBO confirmed that the show has been renewed for a fourth season, which will debut in 2028. When Cooke returns as Alicent, she’ll do it on her own terms, with far less attention paid to what the internet has to say.

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