'House of the Dragon' star Olivia Cooke reflects on failed Rey audition

Olivia Cooke admitted that she once auditioned for the lead role of Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, admitting she felt her performance during the casting process was far from her best.

The House of the Dragon star reflected on the experience during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confusedpodcast, where she discussed an early-career opportunity that ultimately went to Daisy Ridley.

Cooke Auditioned Multiple Times for Rey

When asked about long-standing rumours linking her to the Star Wars franchise, Cooke clarified that she was never in contention for a role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

However, she confirmed that she did audition several times for Rey, the central character introduced in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

“I did audition a few times for the other one, where Daisy Ridley got [it],” Cooke said. “But you know, everyone and their dog auditioned for that.”

Actress Says Audition Did Not Go Well

Looking back on the process, Cooke admitted she was disappointed with her own performance during the auditions.

She said she first auditioned in Los Angeles and later met with director J.J. Abrams, but felt she failed to deliver what was needed for the role.

“I was really bad,” Cooke said. “You know when you go into an audition, and you’re just not bringing it and you’ve let yourself down, you’ve let everyone down in the room?”

The actress added that she recognised the role was ultimately a better fit for Ridley.

Daisy Ridley Was the Right Choice, Cooke Says

Despite missing out on the part, Cooke praised Ridley’s performance as Rey and acknowledged that she was not the right actor for the role at that stage of her career.

“Daisy did such an amazing job,” Cooke said. “I just wasn’t that kind of an actor at that time. It just wasn’t a fit.”

Ridley went on to become one of the faces of the modern Star Wars franchise, appearing in The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.

Career Flourished After Star Wars Miss

Although she did not land the coveted role, Cooke’s career continued to gain momentum in the years that followed.

She starred in films including Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Ready Player One and Sound of Metal before securing the role of Alicent Hightower in HBO’s fantasy drama House of the Dragon.

The series is currently airing its third season, with a fourth and final season expected to conclude the story in 2028.