Emma D’Arcy and their non-binary identity have given hope to many like them to become a mainstream media star. D’Arcy started using pronouns they/them after they received the HBO role in 2020.
Emma D’Arcy has stolen the hearts of many worldwide by playing Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. They became overnight star from the HBO show that, at first, they thought was a Game of Thrones rip-off.
They even got more attention after a video of them explaining their favorite drink alongside their co-star Olivia Cooke went viral. Several fans even guessed that the two actors were in a relationship, seeing their chemistry in the show and during the interviews.
But it is rumored that Emma might be in a relationship with London-based director Thomas May Bailey. Last year, the two collaborated on Bailey’s first short film, THE TALENT. In season 1, Milly Alcock played the younger Rhaenyra, and there are rumors of her dating another HOTD star, Fabien Frankel.
The HOTD Actor Emma D’Arcy Identified As Non-Binary Early In Their Life
The HOTD actor Emma D’Arcy has become the leading non-binary person in the entertainment world. The actor gained fame after starring as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in the HBO show House of the Dragon, a prequel to the hit show Game of Thrones.
D’Arcy grew up in Gloucestershire, in southwest England, in a household where their parents encouraged artistic expression. Their mother was an illustrator, and their father worked in security with a passion for painting and photography.
In their interview with The New York Times, Emma recalled their childhood; they watched VHS tapes of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and became obsessed with the musical narrator and their short blonde hair.
Emma said the character’s androgynous appearance caught their eye and said, “I thought, ‘I would like to be like you.'” As Emma started finding their way in the entertainment industry, they started growing their hair to look more feminine in hopes of finding a job.
But when they did get a role in 2016, the actor was sent into a panic mode, questioning if they would choose between acting work and living in a way that felt authentic to their gender identity. Emma took up the pronouns they/them in 2020 after HBO approached them for the show.
Emma spoke to Gay Times in June 2024 about their fame and being a source of representation for non-binary viewers. They said, “Being a gender non-conforming person on screen feels like a real privilege.
When I was younger, I thought that if I were to be able to act as my job, it would probably be separate from my identity, and maybe they would remain separate.”
The actor further added that they feel hopeful seeing more gender non-conforming, trans, and non-binary people in all aspects of the media.
Emma D’Arcy Talks About Expressing Their Identity Through Fashion
In an interview with Highsnobiety, Emma D’Arcy talked about their style and love for David Bowie. They talked about the impact of clothing among gender-fluid or trans people and that clothes play an even more vital role for them.
Emma said, “I’m a trans-masc presenting person, and broadly, my instinct is to wear rigid shapes softly. They said they loved wearing texture previously but have slowly turned towards wearing bright colors.
Talking about their inspiration, Emma named David Bowie as a major source. The actor had special praise for the British singer and his impact on fashion; they asked if someone existed who hadn’t been impacted by Bowie.
D’Arcy said if anything has changed their style—it’s their work. Rhaenyra’s many skirts only make them want to dress more masculine. They added, “I’ve learned you should discover what you aren’t to know what you want to wear.”
After receiving a nomination for the Golden Globe for Best Actress, Emma arrived in an Acne Studio suit ensemble. D’Aarcy’s suit featured an oversized two-lapel blazer with a white button-up top underneath. The actor paired it with black trousers and a black shirt layered around the waist.
Speaking to E! News at the event, Emma D’Arcy said, “When I was starting, I felt that I had to present as a woman to find success in this industry.
“It wasn’t sustainable, and I stopped pretending. And weirdly, I got nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes, which is beautifully ironic.”
Who Is Emma D’Arcy’s Partner? Are They Dating Someone?
Though Emma hasn’t confirmed their relationship, fans speculate the actor is in a relationship with Thomas Bailey. In 2022, Thomas and Emma posed for pictures at the Gala Night performance of “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.”
The couple shared photographs of each other on Instagram before heading to the LA Premiere of House of the Dragon. These were the first set of pictures Emma shared of them two publicly.
It is to be seen when or if the two confirm their relationship in the mainstream media. Previously, Emma has spoken about their relationship in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
The actor said their partner pushed them to audition for the HBO show. After their partner’s consistent persuasion, D’Arcy sent audition tapes. The show’s creator asked D’Arcy if they owned a wig, to which D’Arcy replied, “Do I look like I own a wig?”
As it was during the pandemic, D’Arcy and their partner had to improvise. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, D’Arcy said, “For 24 hours, me and my partner just tried—I can’t put more emphasis behind that word. My hair was about as long as it is now. We hot glued these hair extensions to these wig grips.”
The couple thought they had cracked it, and the show’s creator, Miguel, would ask them to keep trying. Emma and their partner kept trying until they found something that gave the illusion that they had long hair.
The wig work paid off, and Emma became Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. So, there is a good chance that Emma and Thomas could’ve been in a relationship way before 2020.
Who Is Thomas May Bailey? Emma D’Arcy’s Rumored Partner
Like Emma, Thomas works in the entertainment industry and is a London-based director, screenwriter, and co-director of Second Name Productions. He began working in film in 2020 after an eight-year career as a theatre director.
Bailey worked as Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar Warehouse and trained on the National Theatre Directors Course. In 2022, he worked as an Assistant to the director of the movie Persuasion, and in 2023, his first short film, THE TALENT, received nomination for the 2023 BIFA for Best British Short.
Emma was one of the cast members of the short film alongside Rhianne Barreto and Andrew Bone. Bailey has previously directed at Arcola Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.
From reading celebrity blinds to keeping up with scores of all the different sports happening worldwide, Shreeyukta can’t simply have enough of the entertainment world.
