Emilia Clarke Feared She Would Be Fired From Game Of Thrones After Suffering Two 'Excruciating' Aneurysms

By Haider Ali in Showbiz On 11th June 2024
advertisement

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.

advertisement

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.

Emilia Clarke played Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. HBO

In a revealing interview, she shared the severe health challenges she faced off-screen, which left her fearing for both her life and career.

advertisement

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."

advertisement

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. 

Clarke and her mom have since set up a charity to help people with brain injuries. Getty Images

"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.