Why Daenerys Doesn’t Have Purple Eyes in ‘Game of Thrones’—And How It Changed the Character

In George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, Daenerys Targaryen is depicted with striking violet eyes, a distinct characteristic of her Valyrian heritage. Alongside her silver-gold hair, these violet eyes symbolize the “blood of the dragon,” connecting her to the ancient and powerful Targaryen dynasty. However, in the TV adaptation of Game of Thrones, Daenerys, portrayed by Emilia Clarke, does not sport purple eyes. Instead, her eye color appears as a natural mix of green and blue, a feature stemming from Clarke’s unique eye condition known as central heterochromia. The absence of this book detail has sparked discussion among fans, leading to questions about why this change was made and its impact on the portrayal of the character.

Production Challenges and Practical Considerations

The decision to omit purple eyes for Daenerys was driven primarily by practical production challenges. During the early stages of filming, Emilia Clarke and Harry Lloyd (who played her brother Viserys Targaryen) both tried wearing violet contact lenses to match the book’s descriptions. However, the lenses proved problematic, both for the actors’ comfort and their performances. As reported by various sources, including ScreenRant and discussions on Quora and Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange, the contact lenses were not only uncomfortable but also hindered the actors’ ability to express emotions, a crucial aspect for Daenerys’ complex character. Clarke, in particular, struggled to see and convey her character’s inner turmoil, an issue that would have been especially challenging given the emotional range required for Daenerys’ role.

The discomfort of wearing the lenses, combined with potential safety concerns like reduced oxygen flow to the eyes, led showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to reconsider the use of contacts. The risks posed by the thick, dyed lenses, which could affect eye health, contributed to the decision to avoid them altogether. This decision mirrors similar challenges faced by actors on other productions, such as The Witcher, where actor Henry Cavill also encountered difficulties with contact lenses during filming.

Emilia Clarke’s Natural Eye Color

Emilia Clarke’s natural eye color also played a role in this decision. Clarke has central heterochromia, a condition where her irises have an outer blue ring and an inner green part. This condition, which is harmless and genetically inherited, causes her eyes to appear either green or blue, depending on lighting and camera angles. Retaining her natural eye color allowed Clarke to maintain the expressiveness that became a hallmark of her portrayal of Daenerys. Altering her eye color with contacts could have diminished this, as her unique eyes are a part of her on-screen persona. Additionally, the potential health risks associated with long-term contact lens use made it impractical to alter Clarke’s eye color for the sake of staying true to the book.

Impact on Character and Fan Reactions

Despite the change, the omission of purple eyes did not significantly affect Daenerys’ identity in Game of Thrones. Her platinum blonde hair and dragon-riding abilities, key aspects of her Targaryen lineage, were sufficient to establish her heritage. No characters in the show question her background based on eye color, making her Valyrian descent clear to the audience without the need for purple eyes. However, for some fans of the books, the decision to forgo this iconic trait was disappointing. In particular, some fans felt that the absence of purple eyes diminished the magical, otherworldly aspect of the Targaryens and their connection to their ancient roots. Others speculated that budget constraints for large battle scenes, as discussed in Reddit threads, may have influenced this production choice, although this has not been confirmed.

Consistency with House of the Dragon

This decision to forego purple eyes has been continued in the prequel series House of the Dragon, which portrays Targaryen characters like Rhaenyra and Daemon without the violet eyes described in the books. In this case, the actors’ natural eye colors are retained, maintaining consistency with Game of Thrones while also avoiding the challenges associated with colored contacts. This continuity reflects the showrunners’ practical approach to adapting the Targaryen characters in a way that is both feasible for the actors and true to the essence of the original material.

Narrative Implications: Melisandre’s Prophecy

One unintended consequence of altering Daenerys’ eye color was the narrative speculation surrounding Melisandre’s prophecy about Arya Stark. In the show, Arya is told she will kill people with brown, blue, and green eyes, and Daenerys’ green eyes are highlighted in several close-up shots. This focus led some fans to speculate, as seen in Metro News, that Arya might be destined to kill Daenerys, aligning with the prophecy. While this theory was fueled by the show’s emphasis on Daenerys’ eye color, it contrasts with the book description of her having violet eyes, which would not fit into Melisandre’s prophecy. This discrepancy sparked additional discussion among fans, particularly as they compared the show’s choices with the source material.

Conclusion

While the decision to omit purple eyes for Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones was driven by practical concerns—such as actor comfort, health risks, and the need for natural expressiveness—the change did not undermine her character’s identity or impact her role in the story. Though some fans may have been disappointed by the alteration, the show successfully conveyed Daenerys’ Targaryen lineage through her other distinct features, such as her hair and connection to dragons. The absence of purple eyes highlights the balance between staying faithful to the book’s descriptions and adapting the material for the realities of television production. In the end, it was a decision that allowed Emilia Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys to shine, making her one of the most memorable characters in modern television history.