by In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Emilia Clarke made a startling confession – she almost turned down the iconic role of Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’s smash hit series Game of Thrones. For fans of the show, it’s nearly impossible to imagine anyone else portraying the Mother of Dragons. But Clarke revealed that she nearly passed on the opportunity due to the high amount of nudity required for the character initially.
“I’d never done anything on screen before. And here I was, fresh out of drama school and suddenly I was being asked to take my clothes off and walk through fire,” Clarke explained. “I was 23 years old and it terrified me.”
According to the actress, she was immediately hesitant when she first received the scripts and learned how often Daenerys would need to be nude or participate in sex scenes. “The nudity terrified me,” she admitted. “I had never done anything on screen before. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.”
Clarke was especially concerned about letting down the massive fanbase of George R.R. Martin’s popular book series, which Game of Thrones is based on. “This wasn’t just any job. This was Game of Thrones.”
The Opportunity of a Lifetime
Despite her reservations, Clarke understood what a tremendous opportunity she was being offered. “This was a life-changing, world-changing thing. I could sense that immediately,” she said. Landing the role of Daenerys, one of the most sought-after parts in years, would launch her career to new heights.
Still, the nagging concern about the nudity persisted. Clarke was worried about how it might affect her image and prospects going forward. “Am I going to get typecast as the nudie person? Will they see me as this? How will it affect me?” she remembers thinking at the time.
On the brink of declining the part, Clarke credits her father for changing her mind. “He said, ‘Darling, everyone does it. It’s part of the job.’ And I went, ‘But Dad, this is so much more than I’ve ever done before.'” Yet he remained pragmatic and supportive – advising her to go forward with the role but set clear limits around the scenes in question.
Negotiating the Nudity
Armed with her father’s counsel, Clarke met with the show’s creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to express her concerns. “I’ve not done this before, I’m worried I won’t handle this well,” she told them.
To her relief, Benioff and Weiss were sympathetic and willing to accommodate her request for fewer nude scenes. “Anytime, you don’t want to do it, just tell us and we’ll change it,” they promised her.
With that reassurance, Clarke felt comfortable accepting the monumental role, which would turn her into an overnight star and pop culture icon. For a young actress launching her career, having the support of the showrunners to decline nudity where she felt uncomfortable was pivotal.
“I’ve never felt so professionally supported,” Clarke said. “My early days were spent with David and Dan saying, ‘You can say no to us. You can always say no to us.'” That freedom and permission allowed her to step into Daenerys’ shoes fully and with confidence.
The Mother of Dragons Is Born
When Game of Thrones premiered on HBO in 2011, fans were immediately enthralled by Emilia Clarke’s formidable performance as the exiled Daenerys Targaryen. Her journey from frightened girl to powerful conqueror was riveting and inspired an intense fandom.
Clarke captured Daenerys’ ruthlessness, ambition, courage, and vulnerability in equal measure. As the only remaining heir of the Targaryen dynasty, Daenerys begins Game of Thrones as a meek pawn controlled by her brother but gradually becomes a formidable warlord intent on reclaiming the Iron Throne.
Alongside her trio of dragons, Daenerys amasses armies and conquers cities – freeing slaves and unleashing fire and fury on those who defy her. Her striking image leading regiments of eunuch soldiers and mercenaries, with dragons flying overhead, became indelible. Against all odds, Clarke’s spirited portrayal made the ‘Mother of Dragons’ a force to be reckoned with.
While Clarke spent much of the first season partially clothed or naked, the showrunners stayed true to their word. Her scenes of nudity or sex decreased significantly as Daenerys became more powerful and less vulnerable over the seasons.
Ultimately, Clarke filmed only a couple of nude scenes in total over the show’s eight seasons – demonstrating restraint and respect for the actress on the part of the showrunners. They allowed her nude scenes to reduce drastically once Daenerys transitioned into the strong conqueress she was meant to become.
No Regrets
Today, Emilia Clarke says she has no regrets about overcoming her initial hesitance and accepting the role of Daenerys. “It has opened so many doors – it has given me a career that I never imagined,” she expressed.
Game of Thrones completely transformed Clarke from an unknown drama school graduate into a hugely popular actress and familiar face worldwide. The global phenomenon made its entire cast into household names and Emilia Clarke more so than most as the face of the series and one of the central heroic figures.
“I am where I am now, and who I am now, because of Daenerys,” Clarke shared. “I owe her everything.” After eight seasons playing the iconic Dragon Queen, Clarke has cemented her place among the top actresses working today.
For aspiring actors, Clarke’s story provides an inspiring lesson – sometimes taking a leap of faith and confronting your fears head-on can lead to unimagined rewards. Despite near-paralyzing doubt initially, she took the role of Daenerys on trust and had it transform her career entirely.
Equally important, Clarke was unafraid to set clear boundaries around nudity and sex scenes when needed. Advocating for herself with tact gave her the confidence she needed to wholly embrace the opportunity before her.
With Clarke’s portrayal, Daenerys Targaryen became one of the most beloved, inspiring women in television history. Her steely gaze, silver-blonde wig, and regal costumes made Daenerys an instant icon. Whenever Clarke appeared on screen atop a dragon or emerging unburnt from flames, it was a triumphant moment for women. She redefined power and femininity in one stroke.
Critics and audiences were enthralled by her balanced depiction of Daenerys’ strengths and flaws. Even when the character turns cold and violent in her quest for the throne, Clarke maintained her chilling regality. Thanks to Emilia Clarke, Daenerys was no mere ‘dragon lady’ stereotype but a nuanced, complex woman viewers adored despite her dark turn.
Defining Role
Most rewarding for the British actress was seeing little girls dressing up as Daenerys and finding inspiration in her. “The number of children I have seen dressed up as Khaleesi over the past 8 years has been staggering and so incredible to see,” she shared.
Beyond Game of Thrones, playing Daenerys opened doors for Clarke to land major film roles in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Last Christmas, and Above Suspicion among others.
She formed her own production company and poured her fame and fortune into charitable causes for nursing and rehabilitation. Yet despite her many achievements since, the actress acknowledges that Daenerys will likely remain her defining role.
“I don’t think I’ll ever play a role quite like her again,” she admitted. “Parts like that don’t come around very often.” Even if offered dozens more nude scenes, it’s evident Clarke has no regrets about overcoming her doubts and bringing the mighty Mother of Dragons to life.
“I am forever grateful. Forever and fiercely proud of it.” For fans, her bold portrayal will no doubt live on as one of the most iconic and inspiring female characters ever to grace the screen.
