'House of the Dragon' Star Harry Collett On His Love Of Acting And DJing
The 20-year-old actor plays Jacaerys Velaryon in HBO's House of the Dragon series, but his career is just beginning. Looking forward to a world of different characters and projects, he says, "I wouldn't want to feel stuck or tied to a single role."
Text by SIMONE VERTUA
Photography PIP
Styling KATIE DULIEU
"I admit that it was never my desire to become an actor. At the age of six I started dancing. I did a show in a kind of shopping mall. Then an agent noticed me and told my mother that I [could be an actor], so I went to my first audition and was blown away," says the British actor Harry Collett.
After an appearance in Dunkirk, he starred in Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back) and Dolittle, before landing a breakthrough role in House of the Dragon. Based in London, he spends his free time at home with his mother and his dog, Bella, writing screenplays and DJing. While waiting for the release of the second season of House of the Dragon, he's keeping himself busy with a new, secret film project.
L'OFFICIEL ITALIA: How did you develop your character in 'House of the Dragon?'
HARRY COLLETT: At the audition, they gave me lines without telling me what role it was and I prepared by reading my part, a character who was taking care of his little brother, and at the time of the audition, I recited it with a lot of passion. Then they called me into the studio to tell me it was going to be for House of the Dragon and I immediately thought it was out of my league. I was scared of the hype that revolved around the genre and the books, but I got the call and even now I can't believe I got the role. I haven't read all the books, but I had to do a lot of research and read the synopses. Naturally, fans of the saga have their own highly subjective idea of the character, and you can't get everyone to agree. However, I hope I managed to satisfy even the most demanding fans.
L'O: What struck you most about the set?
HC: It's a huge organism. When you enter the set, it's as if your role automatically comes to life. Everything is off the charts, from the costumes to the settings, especially in this last season.
L'O: Who are your favorite characters?
HC: Of course my mother, Rhaenyra Targaryen! She is the sixth monarch and first female queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Then I like the rivalry between Aemond and Daemon Targaryen. As a viewer I loved their relationship because it makes the series much more exciting.
L'O: What is your relationship to the fantasy genre?
HC: As a good Englishman I limited myself to watching Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, but after playing Jacaerys Velaryon I fell in love with the genre, the settings, the characters and the amazing story created by George R.R. Martin, which was crazy for me.
L'O: Is there any role or genre you would like to experiment with?
HC: I wouldn't want to feel stuck or tied to a single role. I would love a superhero part! A nice Marvel [film] would be crazy. Speaking of genre, I would like to practice an action film, but my goal is to try my hand with a western, because there are so few of those around these days.
L'O: Which directors would you like to work with?
HC: I worked with Christopher Nolan on Dunkirk. I had a small role for about seven seconds, and I would like to work with him again in a bigger role. I like the style of Quentin Tarantino, Dexter Fletcher and Guy Ritchie.
L'O: Who are your reference actors?
HC: Leonardo DiCaprio is a great inspiration to me, because he achieved success at a young age. He is a brilliant, versatile actor, and in Martin Scorsese's Wolf of Wall Street, one of my favorite films, I thought he was brilliant. It would be nice to make a film with him. Among actresses, I like Kate Winslet and I also find Helena Bonham Carter fantastic.
"It's nice to be able to show your personality through clothing. I've learned to appreciate the clothes that strike me the most, and once I wear them I feel the sense of empowerment they convey."
L'O: Are you interested in fashion?
HC: I love the stylistic path that Harry Styles has taken. In a certain sense, he has given freedom to men by allowing them to wear what they want. It's nice to be able to show your personality through clothing. I've learned to appreciate the clothes that strike me the most, and once I wear them I feel the sense of empowerment they convey. I have an addiction to sunglasses, I own so many pairs. Among my favorite brands are Prada, Dior, and Louis Vuitton.
L'O: I saw on Instagram that you are also a DJ. How did you start?
HC: Out of boredom. While I was waiting for the filming of the second ["House of the Dragon"] season to start, I was trying to fill my free time. I went to listen to Michael Bibi, a rather popular DJ in the house scene, and when I left the live show I thought, "I absolutely have to buy a console." I'm self-taught. I followed tutorials on YouTube and I made friends in the music industry, and they helped me in the initial phase. I like playing live, I love the exchange of energy and the reactions of the audience.
L'O: I know you write in your spare time. Are you thinking about a career as a screenwriter?
HC: Yes, maybe. These drafts will probably be scrapped and never see the light of day, but I hope that one day I will be able to [write] something good. When ideas come to me, I write them down. I consider myself quite creative, so I like to venture into different worlds.
L'O: What is the best advice you've received?
HC: Robert Downey Jr. on the set of Dolittle taught me that, as Mies van der Rohe said, less is more. Since then, my acting has been more natural.
L'O: What advice would you like to give to our readers?
HC: It's never too late to start. You can always try, because you might be repressing a creative side that you never realized you had before. It's worth taking the risk so you don't have regrets. And it takes perseverance. Because of Covid, I was without work for three years before getting Dolittle and I was on the verge of giving up. But you don't have to [give up], you might be close to a situation that changes your career.
Grooming: PAUL DONOVAN
