by In 2016, Emilia Clarke starred as Louisa Clark in “Me Before You,” a romantic drama about a woman who forms a special connection with a wealthy quadriplegic man. The film was a turning point in Clarke’s career, altering her outlook on acting and the power of cinema. Over the years since its release, Clarke has frequently discussed how the experience of making “Me Before You” profoundly changed her.
Discovering the Power of Intimate Storytelling
Prior to “Me Before You,” Clarke was best known for epic fantasy projects like “Game of Thrones” and “Terminator Genisys.” Speaking to Variety, she admitted that she previously believed successful films had to have massive budgets full of eye-catching spectacle. “Me Before You” disproved that, demonstrating how a grounded story about two people connecting could resonate just as deeply.
“I think what ‘Me Before You’ did for me was it changed the way I thought about cinema,” Clarke shared. “I always thought it had to be big and loud and expensive and flashy, and this film proved to me that it doesn’t have to be that way. It can be about real people with real emotions, and it can be smart and thought-provoking, and it can still be a blockbuster film.”
Rather than relying on extravagant CGI sequences, “Me Before You” trusted the intimate emotional journey of its leads to captivate viewers. The end result was a box office smash, earning over $200 million globally. For Clarke, it expanded her conception of what powerful cinema could look like. She recognized that spectacle wasn’t necessary for a film to have an impact. All that was needed was an honest human story.
Valuing Every Moment Through a “Love Letter to Life”
In multiple interviews, Clarke has spoken about how “Me Before You” serves as “a love letter to life.” The film follows Will (Sam Claflin), who decides to end his life after being paralyzed in an accident. But his outlook shifts when Louisa comes into his world, reminding him of beauty and meaning in simple moments. Though the ending is bittersweet, the story encourages treasuring each moment we’re given.
For Clarke, playing Louisa and conveying the vitality she brings to Will taught the actress to better value her own life. As she told the Los Angeles Times, “[The film] celebrates the small triumphs of someone appreciating the tiny things in their everyday when they have the shadow of something so much greater over them.” After embodying that on screen, Clarke tried implementing it into her daily mindset.
“It was so life-affirming, this film, that you couldn’t help but walk away going, ‘I must appreciate my life. I must appreciate every single moment,’” Clarke noted. Through Louisa’s eyes, she recognized the intricate significance woven through seemingly routine instances, whether having coffee with a friend or watching the sunset. “Me Before You” altered her perception of the world around her.
Understanding Storytelling’s Power to Spark Social Change
Beyond influencing Clarke personally, “Me Before You” also opened her eyes to how storytelling can promote societal progress. The film’s portrayal of quadriplegia and assisted suicide sparked widespread debate on disability rights and ethical complexities within the real world. Clarke admitted being initially unaware just how much impact their story might have.
“I don’t think I understood the true power of film until this film,” she revealed. “We always hear, ‘Oh, it will resonate around the world,’ but you never quite believe it. Then it does.” Moved by the discourse the film provoked, Clarke felt the immense capacity of stories to shape attitudes and advance change. She witnessed how even fiction could have tangible reverberations through inspiring conversations or shifting mindsets.
“Opinions have been brought to the forefront of people’s minds and decisions have been made on big, important issues because of this film. That’s pretty special,” Clarke said. She expressed pride at contributing to a work that brought marginalized voices into focus and challenged societal beliefs surrounding disabled experiences. Through thoughtful storytelling, “Me Before You” disrupted stagnant structures in a positive direction.
Staying Open to Diverse Projects
Ever since the film’s game-changing impact, Clarke has evidently absorbed its lesson on the value of intimate human stories. In recent years, she has chosen varied projects across independent dramas, ensemble rom-coms, and franchise installments. When picking roles, spectacle and scale no longer rank as Clarke’s top priorities.
“Since ‘Me Before You,’ I’ve learned to appreciate different types of projects,” the actress explained. “It doesn’t have to be an action-packed blockbuster for me to find it interesting. As long as it has something meaningful to say, I’m on board.” She repeatedly highlights the importance of compelling characters and narratives that resonate emotionally.
Rather than solely chasing flashy, CGI-stuffed event films, Clarke displays enthusiasm for lower-budget titles like “Above Suspicion” and “Last Christmas” as well. Even in mega-franchises like “Star Wars,” she spotlights the human relationships grounding the whole saga. Clarke concentrates on complexity of lead roles regardless of genre categorization or presumed commercial prospects.
Cementing Her Commitment to Uplifting Stories
Now over six years since “Me Before You” premiered, Clarke still references the film as having completely changed her perspective on acting and the wider power of storytelling. In recent interviews, she even declared it “one of the best projects I’ve ever been a part of” for the values it promotes. Beyond cementing her talent for balancing humor and heartache, it reinforced her dedication to spreading goodness through her craft.
“It was joyous and a privilege to be a part of something that can give people hope,” Clarke reflected. “This film says, ‘live your life to the fullest and love with all that you’ve got’, which is an incredible message to spread across the world.” Driven by that aspiration, she actively seeks other tales affirming human resilience and compassion.
Whether in the “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon” or an entirely different world, Clarke is sure to infuse her characters with the vitality and emotional authenticity she discovered through Louisa. “Me Before You” unlocked her power to channel empathy and uplift audiences. The lessons it impressed upon Clarke completely transformed her, ensuring she uses her platform to impart more inspiration, wisdom, and courage moving forward.
