The new fantasy drama House of the Dragon will premiere on HBO on August 21. The HBO series is a spin-off prequel to the hit television series Game of Thrones. Both shows are based on the A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R. R. Martin. House of the Dragon turns the clock two hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones. It chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen. It also covers the events leading up to and covering the Targaryen war of succession.
One of the lesser recognized faces among the House of the Dragon cast is Australian actor Ryan Corr. But who is Ryan Corr? Let’s get to know the actor briefly.
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Ryan Corr’s career breakdown
House of the Dragon will see him step into the international television stage for the first time in his career. This role will also see him take on the fantasy genre on a global field for the first time ever. Although he is a popular Aussie face among the cast, he is not the only Australian to feature in the series. Milly Alcock is another Aussie among the cast. She portrays a young Rhaenyra Targaryen in the series, with Emma D’Arcy playing the elder version.
Road to House of the Dragon
Born in Melbourne, Corr started his acting career at the age of thirteen. with the film Opraholic. He then went on to play Matthew McDougal in The Sleepover Club, which made him a household name in Australia. Corr has since accumulated various credits over the years, which include Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are, Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge, ABC’s The Secrets She Keeps, Wakefield, and Hungry Ghosts.
But it was his earlier roles in Silversun as the spike-haired Sheng Zammett and later as Eric in Blue Water High that made him memorable to most Australian millennial memories. Corr’s career will take another amazing turn as he has just completed filming on the Texas noir, Catching Dust.
Corr has also garnered many accolades over the years. He became the recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship in 2011. Cleo’s Bachelor of the Year nominated him in 2012. He won GQ’s award for Breakthrough Actor of 2015, thanks to his roles in Holding the Man, Bloom, Blue Water High, and Packed to the Rafters.
Obstacles in the path
However, Corr’s ride to being a star hasn’t been an easy one. Corr faced charges of heroin possession in 2014. After he admitted to the possession, he recieved a 12-month good behavior bond with no conviction recorded. The arrest took place only a few days after his grandfather had gone into a coma following a heart attack.
Corr has expressed gratitude for the arrest because it stopped him from using the drug. He later added, “I found myself in a position where I was incredibly upset, someone offered me something and 200 meters after, I was picked up with it. It was an error of judgment.”
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Who does Ryan Corr play In House of the Dragon?
The 10-part HBO series will feature Corr playing the character of Ser Harwin Strong. The character is known for being the ‘strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms’ and a ‘knight from House Strong, heir to Harrenhal.’ Popularly known as “Breakbones”, he was a knight from House Strong. Strong is the eldest son and brother of Larys Strong and the heir of Lord Lyonel Strong of Harrenhal.
Beware!! The following content includes details from the Fire & Blood book, which will be considered as SPOILERS for House of the Dragon viewers.
Ser Harwin Strong’s history
Now let’s get into the character’s history. Strong first emerged in 105 AC, appearing in the court with his father, Lord Lyonel Strong, alongside his two sisters and younger brother Larys. Strong then became the captain in the gold cloaks of King’s Landing. He was one of the many suitors to pay court to Rhaenyra Targaryen, the Princess of Dragonstone, during 112 AC.
Strong is rumored to be the lover of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. He is commonly believed by some to have been the real father of her three sons with her first husband, Ser Laenor Velaryon (Joffrey, Jacaerys, and Lucerys). Mushroom observed in 113 AC that Strong once met a spurned Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen after returning to the Red Keep from a night of reveling in the capital. She then took solace in his company, later sharing a bed.
‘Breakbones’
It was Mushroom who came up with Strong’s nickname of ‘Breakbones’. When Princess Rhaenyra granted Strong her favour at the tourney celebrating her wedding with Ser Laenor Velaryon in 114 AC, Ser Criston Cole broke Strong’s collarbone and shattered his elbow.
As a result, Mushroom mocked Strong as “Brokenbones” after this incident. Both Rhaenyra’s husband Ser Laenor and Strong were in attendance at the bedside of Rhaenyra, during the birth of Rhaenyra’s second son, Lucerys, according to Septon Eustace in late 115 AC.
King Viserys I removed Strong as Princess Rhaenyra’s champion. He did so when a brawl broke out after Prince Aemond Targaryen called Rhaenyra’s sons ‘Strongs’ in 120 AC. Strong then returned to Harrenhal, and Kingsguard’s Ser Erryk Cargyll replaced him. Strong later passed away in a fire at Harrenhal. With it also killing his father, Lord Lyonel Strong that same year. The curse of Harrenhal was blamed on the accidental fire.
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Ser Harwin Strong in House of the Dragon so far
Ser Harwin Strong has joined the Gold Cloaks by the point of the fourth episode. Strong briefly encounters Rhaenyra when she’s out with her uncle Daemon, masked as a boy. He first believes Rhaenyra’s disguise as a city boy, but upon realizing that it’s the princess, he jokes with her before allowing her to leave with Daemon. It’s a little point that is easy to miss. But Harwin’s treatment of Rhaenyra at this point predicts their connection to come. As the eldest son of Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), Strong is establishing himself as someone who comes from a line of reasonable judgment. Thus far, Strong has been a man of few words on the screen and even fewer moments.
But that is likely to change over the span of the show. Should House of the Dragon remain loyal to the book it is adapted from, Strong will evolve into a significant character. This will also impact Rhaenyra’s progression and her attitudes toward marriage and eventual children. House of the Dragon has already started to plant some sort of seed for this to happen. With Harwin’s enthusiasm to support Rhaenyra’s tendencies, others are keen to tear it down. He has also demonstrated that he is ready to protect Rhaenyra, as the City Watch is proclaimed to do. Rhaenyra’s recent romantic meeting with Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) may also start to indicate her willingness to explore her sexuality.
Glance at Rhaenyra
The third episode of House of the Dragon featured a final battle, a new dragon, and tons of Game of Thrones Easter eggs. But it was one Harwin Strong who stole the show with just a glance. But what is the significance of this glance and why is it sending shockwaves amongst the fans?
House of the Dragon starts with the seemingly peaceful reign of Viserys I (Paddy Considine). While Viserys is a good man, he is a feeble king facing a succession crisis upon his end. He altered the law to anoint his only surviving child Rhaenyra as his heir. However, he later produced a healthy male heir with his second wife Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey). In the third episode of House of the Dragon, we learn that many of the lords of the realm are presuming that Viserys will anoint his son Aegon as the heir. These lords include Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall) as well. Viserys stubbornly clings to Rhaenyra, but there is another problem on the horizon.
The issue of whom Rhaenyra will wed. The gorgeous and passionate princess will clearly have many suitors trailing her. But which gentlemen of the realm will catch her attention? So far we’ve seen her have touchy moments with uncle Daemon. We have also seen her fireside talks with white knight Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). But can Ser Harwin Strong toy his way into the competition? That’s definitely what that shot in “Second of His Name” suggests. In the upcoming new episode, Rhaenyra will wed her cousin Laenor Velaryon. For reasons, we’ll leave you to find the surprise out. While Rhaenyra and Laenor don’t sleep together, Strong is more than happy to share the bed with the princess.
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Ryan Corr on being in House of the Dragon
Corr has been grateful for earning his role in House of the Dragon, adding “When I first wanted to be an actor as a young boy, you know, these are the sort of [roles] you dream of. So to be here, you have to pinch yourself. I was like a schoolboy excited about it when I found out about it [and] I was like an excited school boy when I rocked up on set. And now at the premier, it’s just the jewel in the crown.”
Corr has revealed that it was his pandemic haircut that helped him land the role in House of the Dragon. “It was kind of funny. Because when this part came up I hadn’t cut my hair in maybe two and half years, right? So, you know, this Game of Thrones role came up and I just sort of stepped out of my bed. And they were like ‘oh great you look like you’re from Middle Earth’,” said Corr elaborating the incident.
Although well accomplished as an actor, Corr has primarily worked on small projects in Australia. Hence, it makes sense that he would be the one among the House of the Dragon cast who would be most impressed by the size and scale of the HBO show’s sets.
“When you are walking into operational sets with actual jousting tournaments and full-level scale castles with fire cauldrons hanging on the roof, it’s a pretty incredible place to be. It’s like walking into a live Shakespeare play,” said Corr, astounded by the expensive setup.
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