Emilia Clarke, known for her iconic role as Daenerys Targaryen in 'Game of Thrones,' has opened up about the challenges she faced due to the show's immense success. In a recent interview with Variety, the actress revealed that she once felt trapped by the fame and recognition the series brought her.
Feeling Trapped by Success
Clarke expressed gratitude for the opportunities 'Game of Thrones' provided but admitted there were times when she felt confined by its success. 'I have gone through every circuitous route to get to the place that I am now, which is finally being able to be very grateful for everything that 'Game of Thrones' did and has given me. I no longer feel trapped in it, or trapped in the result of being in it,' she said.
The actress now feels fortunate to have had the experience and time to understand its impact. 'I feel just really lucky that it happened to me, even luckier that I've had time to understand what that was, and now I feel firmly on the other side,' she added.
Creative Limitations
Clarke explained that her feeling of being trapped stemmed from her inability to enjoy the show for a long time and her lack of creative input. 'Aside from what I brought as an actor, I didn't have any creative input, nor did I want any,' she stated.
Not Watching Spin-Offs
During the interview, Clarke confessed that she has not watched any of the 'Game of Thrones' spin-offs, including 'House of the Dragon.' She described it as 'too weird' and 'too strange' to watch, though she supports the actors involved. 'I'm so happy it's happening. I'm over the moon about all the awards ... I just can't do it. It's so weird. It's so strange,' she concluded.
Clarke portrayed Daenerys Targaryen from 2011 to 2019, a role that remains one of her most popular and iconic. The 'Game of Thrones' universe continues to expand with multiple spin-offs in production and available for streaming.
