Since portraying Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen in “House of the Dragon,” Emma D’Arcy has skyrocketed to worldwide fame. However, this was not their first time on screen or their first prominent role.
The star, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, is also known for their roles in the BBC drama “Wanderlust,” the Prime Video series “Truth Seekers,” and the recent short film “The Talent.”
In this latest project, D’Arcy worked alongside director Thomas May Bailey, who happens to be their confirmed partner. Here, learn all about him.
Nationality, filmography, and more about Thomas May Bailey
According to the personal webpage of Thomas May Bailey, he is a London-based director and screenwriter, and co-director of Second Name Productions.
Thomas May Bailey and Emma D’arcy. (Source: @emmaziadarcy)
He began working in film in 2020 after an eight-year career as a theatre director and met Emma D’Arcy in 2011. In a recent interview, he spoke about this first encounter:
“They were phenomenal when I first saw them all those years ago in 2011, and I think that even more now. […] They have the instinct for realness, for truth, for liveness. I am in awe of Emma…as always.”
Their recent collaboration, “The Talent,” was nominated for the 2023 BIFA for Best British Short. It has screened in-competition at Clermont-Ferrand, Palm Springs ShortFest, ShortShorts, Busan ISFF, deadCentre, Aesthetica Film Festival, and Iris LGBTQ+ Prize.
While the couple is not very active on social media, they never miss the chance to share photos together. Thomas Bailey, in particular, often posts about their projects and events, showing his support for Emma D’Arcy in everything from “House of the Dragon” to theatre.
All on ‘The Talent’, Emma D’Arcy’s collaboration with Thomas May Bailey
In “The Talent,” Emma D’Arcy portrays Tommy, a transmasculine production assistant who works to get coffee for the crew and cast behind a car commercial. When Tommy sees an opportunity to get noticed by the star of the production, he does not hesitate to seize it and try to follow his ambitions.
The title has been widely praised by critics, who lauded Thomas May Baile’s intention to dive into the dynamic and hectic environment of a commercial set. Emma D’Arcy has also received acclaim for their incredible performance. The “House of the Dragon” actor spoke to Deadline about how they felt about this part:
“I was really excited to play Tommy. He’s a beautifully sympathetic character, striving, fumbling, deeply self-conscious, constantly misstepping. And the size of his internal journey is sort of at odds with his environment.”
Thomas May Bailey’s most renowned play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’
Of course, we cannot talk about Emma D’Arcy and Thomas May Bailey as a couple without mentioning their trajectory on stage, where they met. Among the best projects they did together in theatre, “Romeo and Juliet” stands out the most.
Helena Wilson as Juliet and Emma D’Arcy as Romeo. (Source: Oxford Mail)
Directed by Bailey, the play premiered in 2015 at the Southwark Playhouse Theatre in south London. It’s the well-known Shakespeare story but set in the near future, with Romeo played by Emma D’Arcy. This unique setting turns the drama into a reflection on LGBTQ+ relationships.
The production was so well received by critics that it went international, playing on stages such as the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, RSC The Dell, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and Sai-no-Kuni Saitama Arts Theatre.
