Emma D'Arcy | Emma D'Arcy and Thomas May Bailey. | Source: Getty Images | instagram.com/tmayb
Their commanding portrayal of Rhaenyra's chaotic love life has fans fascinated by what Emma D'Arcy's dating life looks like off camera. Emma D'Arcy's partner, or rather rumored partner, has been just out of the photo frame at many events.
Non-binary actor Emma D'Arcy, who uses they/them pronouns, has left bread crumbs on social media and one interview that has led many to believe that their romantic partner is theatre director Thomas May Bailey.
The creative's proximity to the British star makes him the most likely candidate. He has worked with some of the UK's top theatre directors.
Tina Kunakey, Cody Fern, Emma D'Arcy and Thomas May Bailey attend the Haider Ackermann + FILA show on November 17, 2022, in Manchester, England. | Source: Getty Images
Emma D'Arcy Confirmed They Had a Partner in 2022
While sharing how they landed the role of Rhaenyra, D'Arcy, who is private about their personal life, could not omit an essential character in the tale: their partner. During the pandemic, the star recorded a self-tape audition for the part.
Proving they could look the part was tricky as they were sporting short hair, and all the shops were closed during the lockdown. With a leftover piece of hair extensions, their partner painstakingly helped fashion something that came close to a wig with hot glue after a few tries.
Beyond confirming that they were in a relationship recently, the "Wanderlust" actor did not disclose their partner's name. Internet sleuths narrowed down possible paramours to Bailey, a friend and theatre director, who appears in many of the actor's social media content.
Two days after the August 15, 2022, premiere of "House of the Dragon," D'Arcy posted a carousel of images that included the director on the last slide. In a list of credits in the caption, they tagged "hero" Bailey as the photographer.
There's TikTok evidence of the pair attending a gala for "Cabaret" on November 7, 2022. The friends were snapped together at the GQ's Men of the Year Awards a few days later, on November 16.
Though the theatre director did not walk the red carpet at the Golden Globes in 2023, the rumored couple both shared photos on their respective Insta accounts of them posing together and all dressed up for the award show.
Emma D'Arcy’s Rumored Partner Thomas May Bailey Worked On Netflix's Adaptation of 'Persuasion'
Bailey received his training at the NYT Brian Forbes directing scheme and completed a director's course at the National Theatre Studio in London. He was the Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar Warehouse from 2019 to 2020, where he directed "Isolate Ensemble."
Their "worst case scenario" would be people telling them who they can and can't play.
He was director Carrie Cracknell's assistant on "Persuasion" starring Dakota Johnson. Per his website, he directed six short films for the Identity Drama School's Filmcase program with Netflix and has two more shorts in pre-production.
Emma D'Arcy attends the "House Of The Dragon" Sky Group Premiere at Leicester Square on August 15, 2022, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Emma D'Arcy Recently Confessed They Felt the Need to Pretend to Be Somebody They're Not to Find Success
As a child, D'Arcy said they had a similar desire as their "House of the Dragon" character to have "masculine freedom and [to] take up space." Such freedoms are masterfully illustrated in the show by Daemon, portrayed by Matt Smith. D'Arcy mused on the "beautiful" irony of their Golden Globe nomination:
"It's kind of a surreal thing because when I was starting out, I really felt that I had to pretend, to present as a woman in order to find success in this industry. Anyway, it wasn't sustainable, and I stopped pretending, and weirdly, it's at that point that I got nominated for best actress at the Golden Globes..."
For D'Arcy, the only good reason to be out as a non-binary actor is to show others in a similar position that there is "room in this industry for them." By asking them what their pronouns are, HBO provided the star room to bring their non-binary identity to work for the first time.
The star, who lost out to Zendaya at the Globes in 2023, loves playing female characters as they have all the tools to play a woman, having lived as one for a long time. Their "worst case scenario" would be people telling them who they can and can't play.
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