Matt Smith Used Emma D’Arcy’s Correct They/Them Pronouns After Interviewer Misgendered His ‘House of the Dragon’ Co-Star on Season 2 Red Carpet

Matt Smith is being praised online for gently course-correcting a red carpet interview in which a reporter misgendered his “House of the Dragon” co-star Emma D’Arcy. Smith and D’Arcy star on the “Game of Thrones” prequel series as Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively.

During an interview at the “House of the Dragon” Season 2 premiere in London, Smith chatted with reporter Sue Perkins on the red carpet about the climactic moment in the first season finale where Daemon informs Rhaenyra about the death of her son, Lucerys. Perkins, who hosts Sky’s fan show “House of the Dragon: War Room,” incorrectly used “she” pronouns when referring to D’Arcy. Perks said she spoke to D’Arcy earlier on the red carpet and “she gave you all the credit” for the scene.

“I can’t take the credit, [but] I have to say, aren’t they brilliant?” Smith answered, using D’Arcy’s preferred “they/them” pronouns. “They are absolutely brilliant and you’re in for a real treat with Emma this year, I think Emma’s put in … a really great performance.”

D’Arcy identifies as non-binary and speaks openly in interviews about being “a trans-masc presenting person,” as they once told Highsnobiety. In an interview with Them, the actor admitted that they felt a pressure to “present as a woman” earlier in their career in order to succeed in Hollywood.

“It wasn’t sustainable, and I stopped pretending,” D’Arcy added. “And weirdly at that point I got nominated for best actress for the Golden Globes [thanks to ‘House of the Dragon’], which is like beautifully ironic.”

Smith has long praised his co-star, and he recently admitted in a Variety cover story that part of what made shooting Season 2 of “House of the Dragon” so difficult is that he didn’t get as much time to film with D’Arcy since their characters are separated for a good chunk of the new episodes.

“It was difficult to do it without them because I love them — a person of real depth and sardonic humor and fierce intellect,” Smith said about losing D’Arcy as a scene partner.

“House of the Dragon” Season 2 kicks off June 16 on HBO and Max.