Sue Perkins apologizes for misrepresenting House of the Dragon’s Emma D’Arcy

British TV personality Sue Perkins feels sorry for her ‘sy mistake’.

The former host of The great British baking show presided over the London premiere of House of the Dragon season 2 on Monday, June 10, and received some criticism online for using gendered pronouns to refer to non-binary stars Emma D’Arcy in an interview with Matt Smith.

In a clip that has gone viral on social media, Smith — who plays Daemon Targaryen, the husband of D’Arcy’s character, Rhanerya Targaryen — appeared to gently correct Perkins’ use of the word “she.” she brilliant? She are absolutely brilliant.”

Matt Smith effortlessly corrects Sue Perkins on Emma D’Arcy’s pronouns 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/4d20UIhGxB

— #TeamBlack Supremacy (@LadyDaenaera) June 11, 2024

While Smith was praised by social media users for using D’Arcy’s correct pronouns — they/them — Perkins, 54, apologized via X on Tuesday, June 11, for her part in the exchange.

Related: Everything you need to know about ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2

More fire, more blood. We’re counting down the days until Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon returns for season 2. The HBO series, based on George RR Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, is expected to have fewer time jumps after the first season has more lasted more than a year. decade to explain how Rhaenyra (Emma […]

“It was a mistake,” she said wrote. “There was a lot going on in my earpiece, so I wasn’t as focused as I should have been. No excuses. These things are important and I feel terrible about them. I’m a big fan of their work and would never want to be disrespectful x.”

D’Arcy has spoken in the past about their non-binary identity, including how House of the Dragon is the first acting job where they “brought my non-binary identity to work.”

“And part of that was because HBO asked me what pronouns I use, and I thought a lot about whether this was the right time,” D’Arcy shared. Interview magazine in October 2022. “The reason it’s important is because there was a point earlier in my career where I was really worried that it wasn’t possible to be an actor if you weren’t cisgender. Normally within casting sites there are two columns, and I wondered if those two identities would have to live separately in order to have a career.

“The reason I decided to be honest in my professional presentation is that I really hope that younger people who want to do this work know that there is absolutely space and space is emerging,” the actor added.

D’Arcy has also reflected on what it means to be a non-binary actor when it comes to awards. In 2023, they were nominated for best actress at the Golden Globes House of the Dragon season 1.

“When I started, I really felt like I had to present myself as a woman to be successful in this industry,” they said. E! News in January 2023. “It wasn’t sustainable and I stopped pretending. And strangely enough, at that time I was nominated for best actress for the Golden Globes, which is beautifully ironic.

D’Arcy added that the nomination was important for transgender and non-binary actors because “it implies that the space for transgender and gender non-conforming people is expanding.”