Who Is Tom Glynn-Carney? Facts about Actor Who Plays Grown Aegon Targaryen in the 'House of the Dragon'

Tom Glynn-Carney is the actor behind the unruly and indifferent character Aegon Targaryen in HBO's cult series "House of the Dragon." He plays the grown-up version of the character, previously played by actor Ty Tennant.

For fans of the fan-favorite "Game of Thrones," prequel, episode 8 brought with it a new addition to the show, Glynn-Carney, who plays the grown-up Aegon Targaryen. He is the firstborn son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower.

As a firstborn son, Aegon is expected to actively participate in the Kingdom's affairs. Still, he faces his royal duties with indifference and passivity, instead choosing to spend his days drinking heavily and harassing women in the castle.

His behavior was notably an extension of his teenhood when he caused his mother plenty of pain from his unruly habits and blatant refusal to behave appropriately or engage in courtly matters.

Aegon is married to his younger sister Helaena, and they are parents of two children, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. He is also a dragon rider like his father and his half-brother Rhaenyra's main threat to the Iron Throne.

Unruly Character Aside, Who Is Tom Glynn-Carney in Real Life?

Glynn-Carney was born in Salford, Greater Manchester, England, on February 7, 1995. After completing his high school education, he joined the Pendleton College of Performing Arts, where he studied Musical Theatre. He later took acting classes at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Despite his fame, the actor is not very present on social media and is notoriously private about his life behind the scenes. While he has an active Twitter account, he mostly only shares his thoughts about his roles and the TV shows he has appeared in, as well as updates on his music band.

He is not much active on his Instagram either and has only a few photos of himself taken during various photoshoots.

All There Is to Know About Tom's Acting Career

Besides his role as the grown Aegon Targaryen, Glynn-Carney has numerous other acting credits under his belt. While studying at Guildhall School, he participated in professional stage adaptations of "Peter Pan" and "Macbeth."

His first TV role came in the form of two episodes in the British medical drama "Casualty" before securing a lead role in the BBC military drama "The Last Post," where he played Lance Corporal Tony Armstrong. He has also taken on several theatre roles, including playing Shane Corcoran in "The Ferryman."

His first significant role in the film business was playing the calm, dutiful, and kindhearted young man, Peter Dawson, in the WWII epic "Dunkirk."

His other parts include playing Christopher Wiseman in the 2019 biographical war drama "Tolkien" and, that same year, appearing alongside Timothy Chamalet in the epic war film "The King."

Tom Is a Man of Many Talents — He Is Also a Musician

Besides his apparent acting prowess, Glynn-Carney boasts numerous other skills. He is also a musician known for his boisterous vocals and for being the lead singer for his band, Sleep Walking Animals.

He plays alongside his friends and bandmates, Joe Etherington with the guitar and vocals, Nuwan Hugh Perera with the keys, Alex Harford with the guitar, Jack Brett with the bass, and Bill Caple with the drums.

The crew of six grew up together as friends before forming the band, which has gained traction in the past years, selling out venues in London and Manchester and touring nationally.

The band bonds over their friendship and mutual sense of brotherhood to mesmerize their fans with a melee of evocative folk and progressive rock. Asked what sparked his music passion, Glynn-Carney said that playing in the band was his escape from acting, adding:

"Six mates playing their own tunes for people who want to listen. What's better than that?"

Where Does Tom Seek Inspiration?

With a career that seems to only head for the skies, Glynn-Carney disclosed that he has often sought inspiration from many other actors already established in the business.

Some of his inspiration comes from "Nomadland" actress Frances McDormand, "Bridge of Spies" actor Mark Rylance, "The Bad Guys" actor Sam Rockwell, "A Most Wanted Man" star Philip Seymour Hoffman, and "Joker" actor Joaquin Phoenix.

However, his motivation is not limited to only actors. Glynn-Carney also disclosed that he seeks inspiration from people who have little connection to the film and acting industry. People with a half-full-glass mentality, selflessness, determination, and resilience have been the ones to inspire him the most.

Tom Loves His Privacy and Had a Break from Social Media

Even though he is not very active on social media, his Instagram page showcases some of his most precious moments. However, his interests lie elsewhere, so he took a well-deserved break from the platform, only returning on May 2022.

While he agrees that social media can be brilliant in many ways, he says stepping away from it for some time helps one see the world from a different perspective. He wrote after his return:

"Simpicity in life is something I need. Whatever you need, take the time to find it. It's good to turn the volume down sometimes."

Speaking to The Untitled Magazine, Glynn-Carney explained that while social media is good, moderation is vital. He loves a private life, but with the social media era we all live in today, that has become increasingly difficult to achieve, thus the decision to take a hiatus.

He also disclosed that he was not interested in keeping up with the trends or searching for fame from the platforms. However, in a comical turn of events, he says he cannot stay away from dog videos. As it stands, fans wait with baited breaths to experience the goings-on of the "House of the Dragon."