Emilia Clarke’s Accent Challenge on Ellen: Sixty Seconds of Pure Comedy Gold
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
When Emilia Clarke walked onto The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 14, 2016, fans expected to hear about dragons, kingdoms, and the looming return of Game of Thrones. What they got instead was a whirlwind minute of pure comedic brilliance.
Clarke, best known as the fierce Daenerys Targaryen, traded in her royal command for a playful round of Heads Up, Ellen’s favorite party game. Sharing the stage with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, she was tasked with performing five accents in under a minute. The result? A rapid-fire display of charm, wit, and surprising linguistic agility.
The One-Minute Accent Tour
Within seconds, Clarke dove into her first role—a Valley Girl at a club—channeling the exaggerated intonations and bubbly cadence that had the audience in stitches. She slipped seamlessly into a French accent mid-romance, her voice dripping with melodrama, before transforming into an Italian food critic, a performance that drew some of the biggest laughs of the night.
From there, she tackled a Mexican police officer and a Jamaican driver stuck in traffic. While these final two were admittedly “flatter” than her earlier hits, they kept the energy high and the audience engaged, proving that even when she’s less than pitch-perfect, Clarke’s comedic timing carries the day.
More Than Just Mother of Dragons
The accent challenge was just part of an episode that revealed a lighter side of Clarke. Between laughs, she spoke candidly about her time on Game of Thrones, her now-famous nude scenes, and her feature in Esquire’s “Sexiest Women Alive” issue. It was a reminder that while Clarke’s screen presence as Daenerys is commanding and formidable, offscreen she’s approachable, self-deprecating, and quick to poke fun at herself.
Perfect Timing for a Global Audience
The appearance was strategically timed, coming just ten days before the April 24, 2016 premiere of Game of Thrones Season 6. The segment’s mix of global accents—from Valley Girl to Jamaican—mirrored the show’s international fan base, while giving Clarke a chance to display her versatility beyond the Seven Kingdoms.
A Lasting Impression
Though some accents may have been less polished than others, Clarke’s willingness to throw herself into the challenge without hesitation won the day. Fans and media outlets alike praised the moment, not for technical perfection, but for the unfiltered joy it brought.
Nearly a decade later, the clip still circulates online, serving as a charming reminder that Emilia Clarke isn’t just a commanding presence on the battlefield—she’s also a master of making people laugh, one accent at a time.
