If you’ve seen the Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon, you’re familiar with the eye-catching prince of the show’s leading royal family in their utopian world of Westeros, Harry Collett. The young actor (who auditioned when he was 16) has seemingly nabbed the role of a lifetime—a dragon rider and heir to the complicated throne in the series watched by millions since its debut in 2022—but don’t go blaming it on luck. “I had no idea what I was auditioning for. My character was called Jack for ‘Untitled HBO Series’, which I now find quite funny,” explains Collett. “I was going into the audition and I saw the sheet of all the other guys. They were all strong and tall. I thought I had no chance to play a prince, which didn’t help the nerves. There were about 100 people in a room, [and] my audition went terribly. I kept forgetting my lines because I was so nervous. I felt like I definitely wouldn’t get the role. But to my surprise, I did. And I couldn’t be happier.”

But before tapping into the show’s fantastical universe, Harry built his craft in the West End theatre scene of London. “I have been doing theatre since I was very young and every night I had so much fun,” he explains. “The feeling you get while doing theatre and TV/film are completely different. Theatre, you feel this rush of adrenaline and have the freedom to do it differently every night. It also feels amazing to get that cheer at the end. If anyone could bottle up that feeling, they would be a billionaire. It was never really a plan to move to television and film, it just sort of happened organically and I’m so happy it happened that way.” Now at age 21, who celebrated his birthday on set of his VMEN shoot, he’s looking ahead with confidence on his path in acting. “I have learnt so much on my journey of life but being in [House of the Dragon] is teaching me so much. This year, I want to try out a whole range of new roles. I want to do so many different personalities and even different genres of film/TV. I am also not ruling out a play either.”

VMAN: What did the audition and preparation process look like for ‘House of the Dragon’? Were you always a fan of GOT?

HC: I was cast quite late I believe. I had a few online Zoom self tapes as everything was still like that due to Covid. And then they asked me to come in the studio to do the final audition.  Through the early Zoom stages, I had no idea what I was auditioning for. My character was called “Jack” for “Untitled HBO Series”. Which I now find quite funny. But before the in-person audition at the studio, I was told. Which probably gave me a kick up the butt, in a good way. But it also made me so nervous. I was going into the audition and I saw the sheet of all the other guys. They were all strong and tall. I thought I had no chance to play a prince. Which didn’t help the nerves. It was now time for my audition and I went in, everyone was there. About 100 people in a room. It was quite scary. My audition went on and it went terribly. I kept forgetting my lines because I was so nervous. I left the audition room and felt like I definitely wouldn’t get the role. But to my surprise, I did. And I couldn’t be happier. Sometimes it’s always the auditions you THINK have gone bad, you end up getting. In terms of Game Of Thrones, I was never really a fan because I was too young to watch it at the time! I was 16 when I auditioned (*laughs*). But of course I’d heard of it through everybody and how great that show is. 

VMAN: Do you remember what your first day on the set of House of the Dragon felt like? What stood out to you the most?

HC: My first day was on the Dragon Buck, with Elliot Grihault who played my little brother in the show. It was quite a fun first day. However it didn’t go as I planned. The studio we were filming in was amazing, it had thousands of LED lights to simulate the sky, so when we were riding the “dragons” we could actually feel as if we were there. Which was amazing. But my brain decided to get a migraine and I felt ill the entire day. I think it was just a whole mixture of nerves and the LEDs. What stood out to me the most is how lovely everyone was. I couldn’t wait for the rest of the shoot. I have honestly never met such an amazing cast and crew, where everyone is so lovely. 

VMAN: How has it been working with Emma for your storyline with Jace? Has the experience of working together help develop your connection to the role more? Where do you think you and Jace have similarities?

HC: Emma D’Arcy is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. They have such charisma and were so welcoming to me on my first day. As seasons go on, me and Emma have built this parent-and-son relationship just like we do in the show haha. And I think that has helped it come across on screen so much more. Even if we are on location, we would go for dinner together with other cast mates. So everyone is really like one big family. I’m so thankful to have Emma. Without them, I don’t think I could’ve done half of the things in show that I have already. I love them from the bottom of my heart.  In terms of me and Jace having similarities, sadly I’m not a prince. So SADLY that’s not a similarity. But Jace is determined. And so am I in my career. If I have a goal, I go for it. I put my all into it. And Jace does not let anyone get in his way, a little bit like me. Jace also knows how to use a sword and so do I. Not a lot of people know this but after Season 1, I took up a bit of sword training. Jace would still probably beat me in a fight. But I think I could still stand my own. 

VMAN: You started out your career by doing West End productions for a variety of musicals then found your footing in your progression to television. Walk us through that pivot a bit—was going from theater to television/film something you had always intended on doing? Were you ever a bit hesitant to make that shift?

HC: I was doing theatre since I was very young as the main thing and every night I had so much fun. It was never really a plan to move to television and film. I was never really hesitant to make the shift though, because it just sort of happened organically and I’m so happy it happened that way. But as of now I do prefer television and film but I would never say no to going back to theatre one day.

VMAN: What would you say are some of the biggest differences within those communities? How does the camaraderie differ or are there similarities?

HC: I think the communities are roughly the same however the feeling you get while doing theatre and TV/film are completely different. Theatre, you feel this rush of adrenaline and have the freedom to do it differently every night. It also feels amazing to get that clap and cheer at the end. If anyone could bottle up that feeling, they would be a billionaire. However, they are both quite similar in that aspect. I get that same sort of feeling being at a premiere. But only then I feel more nervous as you can’t change what you have already done. And personally, as an actor I feel as if I can always improve. But hopefully people are happy with what I have done so far. 

VMAN: ​​You just celebrated your 21st birthday! While you kicked off your first day of being 21 by being shot for VMAN, what has you most excited about your year ahead?

HC: It was really cool doing a photoshoot on my birthday by the way, I love doing my job, and what a nice little present to get to do a magazine shoot on my birthday haha. I’m a strong believer of whatever happens, happens for a reason. So as long as I’m still acting which I love to do for a living. I’ll be happy. I really want to try and play a diverse range of roles and projects this year too. I really want to challenge myself. 

VMAN: You’ve accomplished quite a bit before turning 21—what would you say has been your proudest accomplishment thus far?

HC: This is a hard question but I would have to say being a part of House Of The Dragon. I’ve always dreamt of being in a show of this caliber and to do it with such an amazing cast too. Which has all come true. I have learnt so much on my journey of life but being in this show is teaching me so much. And I’m so lucky, grateful, and proud that I am a part of it.  However, I’m also so grateful to have met and worked with so many amazing people along the years. Little Harry would have never thought he’d star in a movie with Iron Man and be in a series with Doctor Who. 

VMAN: Aside from filming the next season, do you have any exciting plans that you’re looking forward to this spring/summer? (Traveling, special projects, etc.)

HC: Not anything I can say. However like I said, I want to try out a whole range of new roles this year. I want to do so many different personalities and even different genres of film/TV. I am also not ruling out a play either. I do want to travel in the summer if I can, me and my friend James want to travel to Indonesia. So if I can do that, I can’t wait for that.

This cover story appears in the pages of VMAN 54: now available for purchase!

Photography Charlotte Hadden

Fashion Davey Sutton

Grooming Olivia Cochrane (Werth Represents)

Editor Kevin Ponce

Videographer Matthew Labudda

ProductionThe Production Factory