‘House of the Dragon’ Star Olivia Cooke Reveals ‘Really Bad’ Audition for Rey in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: ‘I Was S—’

Olivia Cooke revealed on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast that she had a "really bad" audition for the role of Rey in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Cooke, who now stars as Alicent Hightower in HBO's "House of the Dragon," described her audition as a significant failure, stating, "I was s---." The actress was asked about rumors linking her to a part in Rian Johnson's 2017 "Star Wars" film, "The Last Jedi," but clarified that her unsuccessful audition occurred much earlier in the casting process for "The Force Awakens." She did not specify which character she auditioned for beyond Rey, nor did she name the casting director or specific date of the audition, only that it was for the 2015 film directed by J.J. Abrams. Cooke's career has since seen major success with "House of the Dragon," which premiered in August 2022, and her role in "Bates Motel" from 2013 to 2017.