Emma Zia D'Arcy is an English actor known for their roles in television and film. They gained recognition for their performances in "Wanderlust", "Truth Seekers", and notably as Rhaenyra Targaryen in "House of the Dragon", which earned them critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. D'Arcy has also appeared in films such as "Misbehaviour" and "Mothering Sunday".
In 2011, Emma D'Arcy graduated from the Ruskin School of Art at Oxford University, where they studied Fine Art. During their time at university, D'Arcy began exploring theatre, initially as a set designer before transitioning into acting and directing.
Emma D'Arcy portrayed Tammy Frazier in the 2016 production of "Callisto: A Queer Epic" at the Arcola Theatre, a play directed by Thomas Bailey.
In April 2017, D'Arcy took on the role of Bell in the production "A Girl in School Uniform (Walks into a Bar)" at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
D'Arcy shared the stage with Ben Whishaw in Christopher Shinn's play "Against" at the Almeida Theatre in August 2017. Their performance in the production received critical praise.
D'Arcy returned to the Arcola Theatre in 2018 to portray Lucrezia in an adaptation of Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway" by Hal Coase. Their performance in this production was highly praised.
In 2018, Emma D'Arcy made their television debut as Naomi Richards in the BBC One and Netflix series "Wanderlust," written by Nick Payne.
In 2019, D'Arcy appeared as Elizabeth Proctor in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" at The Yard Theatre. Their performance in this critically acclaimed production was considered both captivating and powerful.
In 2019, Emma D'Arcy played the character of Alma Smith in the drama series "Wild Bill."
Emma D'Arcy appeared in the comedy-drama "Misbehaviour," directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, in March 2020.
In December 2020, it was announced that Emma D'Arcy would be playing the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO's "House of the Dragon," a prequel to "Game of Thrones" based on George R.R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood."
Emma D'Arcy appeared in two Amazon Prime Video series in 2020: "Truth Seekers," a comedy horror series starring Nick Frost, where they played Astrid, and "Hanna," an action drama series where they played Sonia Richter.
Production for the highly anticipated HBO series "House of the Dragon," featuring Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, commenced in April 2021.
D'Arcy starred as Emma Hobday in the romantic drama film "Mothering Sunday," released in 2021. The film, directed by Eva Husson, explores themes of class division and post-war experiences in 1924 England.
The first season of "House of the Dragon," the "Game of Thrones" prequel starring Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, debuted in August 2022.
A video clip of Emma D'Arcy discussing their favorite cocktail, a Negroni Sbagliato, during an interview in October 2022, gained widespread attention online, becoming a viral meme and contributing to a surge in the drink's popularity.
Emma D'Arcy was honored as "Performer of the Week" by TVLine for their performance in the season finale of "House of the Dragon," titled "The Black Queen," which aired on October 23, 2022.
In November 2022, GQ magazine acknowledged Emma D'Arcy as one of the breakout stars of the year for their performance in "House of the Dragon."
Emma D'Arcy gained critical acclaim for their portrayal of Rhaenyra Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series "House of the Dragon," which premiered in 2022. This role marked a significant breakthrough in their career.
In April 2023, Emma D'Arcy secured the fifth position on Radio Times' list of the 100 most influential individuals in television.