Annie Shapero cast in the third season of House of the Dragon

Annie Shapero has been cast as a female warrior in the third season of HBO's fantasy series House of the Dragon. Internet speculation over who would play one of George R. R. Martin’s most formidable female warriors in House of the Dragon season three has been put to rest: Australian-British actress Annie Shapero has been confirmed as Alysanne Blackwood, also known as Black Aly.


Annie Shapero

Alysanne Blackwood is a key character in Martin's book Fire and Blood. She is the aunt of Lord Benjicot Blackwood and sides with Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Emma D'Arcy) in The Dance of the Dragons.

Known as a courageous and fearless warrior, she eventually marries Lord Cregan Stark (played by Tom Taylor), becoming a legendary figure in the history of House Stark. Although Shapero is not a regular cast member, she will appear in five of the eight episodes of the third season.

Besides Shapero, there are other newcomers to the popular HBO series. James Norton plays Ormund Hightower, the nephew of Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), Tommy Flanagan plays Lord Roderick Dustin, and Dan Fogler takes on the role of Ser Torrhen Manderly.

Annie Shapero previously starred as the American journalist Jenny in the Israeli drama series Red Skies, which won an award at Series Mania and was co-created by Ron Leshem (Euphoria). She also starred in the FX pilot The Border, in the film The Narrow Road to the Deep North with Jacob Elordi, and has a role in the upcoming Australian horror film Saccharine opposite Midori Francis.

House of the Dragon has become a huge success for HBO. Starring Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, and Olivia Cooke, the third season will further explore the escalating civil war within the Targaryen dynasty.