Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, has talked about being afraid of dying while filming.
Despite the show's ups and downs, she's one of the reasons it's so popular.
Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, has talked about being afraid of dying while filming.
Despite the show's ups and downs, she's one of the reasons it's so popular.
Emilia Clarke, renowned for her role in "Game of Thrones," has openly shared her fears of dying while working on the series.
Despite the mixed reactions to its final episodes, "Game of Thrones" is celebrated as one of the finest TV series ever created.
This acclaim is largely due to the exceptional performances of the cast, including Emilia Clarke, who was central to the show's success from its inception to its conclusion.
At 37, Clarke, who portrayed Daenerys Targaryen, played a pivotal role throughout the series.
In a revealing interview, she shared the severe health challenges she faced off-screen, which left her fearing for both her life and career.
Speaking with Big Issue, Clarke recounted the harrowing experience of surviving two life-threatening brain hemorrhages in 2011 and 2013, during her time on the iconic HBO series.
Previously, she described enduring "excruciating pain" from the brain damage, which caused frequent vomiting.
She struggled to maintain consciousness and cognitive function.
Clarke explained the profound impact of her brain injury on her self-perception and confidence, especially in her professional environment.
"When you have a brain injury, because it alters your sense of self on such a dramatic level, all of the insecurities you have going into the workplace quadruple overnight," she told Big Issue.
Her primary concern after her first brain injury was the fear of losing her job.
"The first fear we all had was: ‘Oh my God, am I going to get fired? Am I going to get fired because they think I’m not capable of completing the job?’"
Returning to work post-injury, Clarke worried about the possibility of dying while performing her role.
She humorously remarked, "Well, if I’m going to die, I better die on live TV."
Clarke also spoke about feeling incredibly isolated because of her illness.
"Having a chronic condition that diminishes your confidence in this one thing you feel is your reason to live is so debilitating and so lonely," she continued.
"One of the biggest things I felt with a brain injury was profoundly alone. That is what we’re trying to overcome."
At her lowest point, Clarke felt so overwhelmed by her condition that she asked the medical team to let her die, believing she couldn't continue after such severe brain damage.
She feared she might never act again.
However, Clarke has since recovered and thrived, claiming that overcoming her health challenges "has given [her] a superpower."
She is now dedicated to supporting others who face similar difficulties.
Together with her mother Jennifer, Clarke established the SameYou foundation to help those recovering from brain injuries, inspired by her own journey to recovery.