Emilia Clarke reveals she feared firing from Game Of Thrones after brain injury

Virgin Radio

10 Jun 2024, 15:51

The Mother of Dragons, Emilia Clarke, thought she might be dethroned following a serious health scare.

Emilia Clarke, our beloved Daenerys Targaryen from Game Of Thrones, recently dropped a bombshell revelation about her time on the HBO hit series.

The actress, who faced not one but two severe brain haemorrhages while filming, confessed she feared she might get the axe from the show.

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In an essay she wrote for The New Yorker in 2019, Clarke delved into her terrifying health ordeal that started back in 2011.

Just as her character was preparing to take over Westeros, Clarke herself was battling a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm.

The brave actress underwent endovascular coiling surgery and, at one point, was unable to even say her own name.

Clarke's journey wasn't over yet. In 2013, she faced another aneurysm and had to undergo surgery again, all while still working on Game Of Thrones.

While revisiting the ordeal for a new The Big Issue cover story, Clarke revealed: "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?'"

Imagine if this horrendous health scare cause a permanent issue for Emilia and the show, the world would never be the same.

She opened up about the impact of her brain injury, saying: "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."

Clarke managed to keep her condition under wraps initially, thanks to the timing of her haemorrhages, which occurred between filming seasons.

Showing a strength only equalled by her on-screen character, Clarke joked: "Well, if I’m going to die, I better die on live TV."

Despite her health battles, Clarke pushed through with the spirit of a true Targaryen.

However, the experience left her with deep insecurities.

She added: "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 shared. "One of the biggest things I felt with a brain injury was profoundly alone. That is what we’re trying to overcome."

In response to her ordeal, Clarke and her mother founded SameYou in 2019, a charity aimed at supporting those recovering from brain injuries.

Our Dragon Queen isn't just about fire and blood; she's making a real difference in the world, one step at a time.

And if that wasn't enough to get your heart racing, the Game Of Thrones universe is still very much alive and kicking.

The second season of the spin-off series, House Of The Dragon, is set to premiere on June 16 and is already receiving rave reviews from critics. Westeros is clearly in good hands!