by Emilia Clarke has captivated audiences with her powerful and nuanced performances across television and film. From her breakout role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones to acclaimed films like Me Before You and Solo: A Star Wars Story, Clarke has proven herself to be one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation. Her ability to compellingly convey emotion, strength, vulnerability and complexity through her characters has earned her critical and popular acclaim.
When discussing her craft, Clarke frequently cites the acting greats who have shaped her distinctive performance style. By studying legends like Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett, Emilia Clarke has developed her own unique approach to inhabiting characters that is both technically precise and emotionally resonant. Here’s a closer look at how these five powerhouse performers have influenced Clarke’s constantly evolving acting sensibilities.
Meryl Streep
Clarke has made no secret of her deep admiration for the legendary Meryl Streep, naming her as the actress she most aspires to emulate. Like Streep, Clarke is drawn to roles of women in challenging circumstances, and aims to honor the humanity and complexity of her characters. Streep’s dedication to fully realizing every aspect of a persona, from physicality to vocal inflections, is apparent in the way Clarke wholly transforms into each of her roles.
In interviews, Clarke praises Streep’s ability to disappear into wildly diverse characters, citing it as motivation for her own desire to showcase range as an actress. Streep’s mastery of accents and dialects has also had a significant impact on Clarke, who now approaches voice work with meticulous detail and preparation. Overall, Streep’s artistic fearlessness and technical skills have shown Clarke the heights that an actress can reach with true commitment to the craft.
Helen Mirren
Another acting legend that Clarke cites among her biggest influences is the great Helen Mirren. Clarke deeply admires the innate gravitas and presence that Mirren projects on screen, saying she wants to emulate the complexity and authority Mirren conveys through her acting. At the same time, Clarke strives to capture the vulnerability and sensuality that Mirren brings to her characters.
Mirren’s theatrical background is apparent in the intricately nuanced physicality she incorporates into every performance. Clarke notes this as a key aspect of Mirren’s acting that she has integrated into her own screen portrayals. Clarke also praises Mirren’s ability to capture a character’s essence with minimal dialogue, using subtle facial expressions and gestures to maximum effect. Mirren’s mastery of non-verbal communication has clearly impacted Clarke’s own expressive yet economical acting style.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Known for being one of the most dedicated method actors in cinema history, Daniel Day-Lewis is another major influence on Clarke’s acting approach. She is in awe of the intense preparation and concentration Day-Lewis puts into bringing a character to life. Clarke strives to emulate his willingness to fully immerse himself in every aspect of a role in order to achieve true authenticity.
Day-Lewis’s ability to inhabit characters to the point where he seemingly disappears is something Clarke aims to capture in her own work. His fanatical attention to detail, from fashioning character voices and gaits to learning practical skills like sewing or butchery, motivates Clarke to fully commit herself to understanding the essence of each role she portrays. Day-Lewis sets the bar for acting excellence by example, showing the heights Clarke can reach if she funnels the same level of dedication into each performance.
Judi Dench
Clarke greatly admires the varied roles Judi Dench has played across her decades-long career, citing her versatility as an inspiration in her own acting. Whether portraying regal historical figures, ruthless villains or quotidian working folk, Dench completely transforms in each new character without ever losing truth and relatability. Her ability to pivot convincingly between serious drama and riotous comedy has shown Clarke the importance of taking on diverse roles.
In particular, Clarke is in awe of Dench’s meticulous command of timing and delivery, especially in comedic parts. The nuanced mannerisms and pitch-perfect sarcasm Dench conveys have clearly influenced Clarke’s own performances. Like Dench, Clarke focuses on finding the deeper resonance beneath the surface humor. Whether playing a revered leader like Queen Elizabeth or a fan-favorite role like Daenerys Targaryen, Clarke channels Dench’s spirit by highlighting the core humanity within each larger-than-life character.
Cate Blanchett
With her trademark versatility and fearlessness as an actress, Cate Blanchett is another inspiration for Emilia Clarke. She admires Blanchett’s willingness to take on roles covering the full spectrum of human experience, from abstract to intensely emotional. Blanchett’s ability to tap into unique character perspectives extends Clarke’s own understanding of what is possible to portray as an actress.
A key technical aspect of Blanchett’s work that Clarke strives to replicate is her unnerving ability to indicate a character’s dark, unpredictable aspects using only subtle facial expressions and vocal inflections. Clarke notes how Blanchett can convey volumes about a character’s internal motivations with just a glance or a pause, creating an electric tension on screen. Likewise, Blanchett’s captivating eyes and precisely calibrated body language have shown Clarke how important those details are in crafting a multi-dimensional portrayal.
By studying these five phenomenal artists, Emilia Clarke continues to refine her own acting skills and develop her unique performance style. Though each legendary actress has distinct strengths, together they have built a foundation upon which Clarke can bring her characters to vivid, compelling life on screen. Fans will surely be seeing Clarke implement these techniques for many memorable roles still to come in her bright future. Whether gracefully portraying indomitable women like Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys or finding the tender humanity of Louisa Clark in Me Before You, Emilia Clarke stands poised to join the top ranks of acting greats who have so profoundly influenced her career.
