How Emilia Clarke Was Supported by Jason Momoa During Her Most Uncomfortable Scene

Emilia Clarke’s career skyrocketed when she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones, a role that earned her worldwide recognition and acclaim. However, the road to fame was not without its challenges, especially when it came to the series’ explicit content. Clarke, who was just 23 years old and fresh out of drama school, faced significant emotional distress while filming intimate scenes, particularly during the early seasons. Among those moments, one scene stands out as particularly traumatic for the actress—a scene that Clarke has admitted she never wanted anyone to see.

The Wedding Night Scene: A Moment of Vulnerability

The scene in question is from Season 1, Episode 1 of Game of Thrones, where Daenerys is subjected to a violent wedding night with Khal Drogo, played by Jason Momoa. This harrowing scene, which is described as a depiction of rape, has been identified in various sources as one of the most distressing moments for Clarke during her time on the show.

Clarke, who had limited experience on film sets at the time, found these early intimate scenes deeply unsettling. In interviews with outlets like The Guardian and The Daily Mail, she has openly discussed the emotional toll these moments took on her. Clarke has admitted to being terrified before filming these scenes and often found herself in tears, particularly before filming the wedding night sequence. She also revealed that she had not been made aware of the nudity involved when she initially accepted the role, adding to her discomfort.

Emotional Strain and Feeling Unprotected

Clarke’s emotional struggles during filming were compounded by her lack of experience. Having only been on set a handful of times prior to Game of Thrones, she was left feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for the challenges she would face. She has spoken about experiencing “imposter syndrome times a million,” feeling unworthy of requesting changes or support in those early days of filming.

The wedding night scene, in particular, was emotionally challenging for Clarke. As one of her first major intimate scenes, it left her feeling exposed and vulnerable. She described a sense of being unprotected, further emphasizing the difficulty of the experience. Clarke’s emotional state before filming was so intense that she would cry before filming these sex scenes, which reflects just how deeply affected she was by the process.

Jason Momoa’s Support During Filming

Despite the distress, Clarke found a source of comfort in her co-star, Jason Momoa. Momoa, who was 43 at the time and had more experience in the industry, made it a priority to ensure Clarke’s comfort during filming. Both The Guardian and The Daily Mail note how Momoa went out of his way to help Clarke feel more at ease, such as by providing her with a robe when she was shivering between takes. His support played a key role in helping her navigate the discomfort of the scene, offering some much-needed reassurance in an emotionally challenging moment.

A Shift in Clarke’s Approach to Nudity

As Clarke’s career progressed, so did her approach to nudity on screen. By the time she turned 33, Clarke had become “a lot more savvy” when it came to setting boundaries. She was no longer willing to accept nudity for the sake of a script, and she even fought back against pressures to meet fan expectations. In one memorable instance, she asserted, “No, the sheet stays up,” rejecting demands for further nudity during filming. This shift in her stance highlights how her early experiences with intimate scenes, like the wedding night, shaped her evolution as an actress—one who was no longer willing to sacrifice her comfort for the sake of a role.

Reflections on Her Past Experiences

In a 2019 interview on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Clarke elaborated on her initial discomfort with nudity, explaining that she saw it as a necessary element for the script at the time but later recognized the emotional and psychological impact it had on her. This reflection aligns with her feelings about the wedding night scene, further cementing it as one of the moments she likely never wanted anyone to witness in the way it was portrayed on screen.

Comparing Other Scenes: A Personal vs. Narrative Discomfort

While Clarke has spoken about other scenes from Game of Thrones—including her final death scene in Season 8—the level of distress described for those moments does not match the deep discomfort she felt during the early nude scenes. The narrative choices surrounding Daenerys’ ultimate fate in the final season may have been difficult for Clarke on a personal level, but they did not elicit the same emotional strain as the early intimate scenes. As such, the wedding night scene remains the most fitting candidate for the scene Clarke would have preferred to stay hidden from the public eye.

A Legacy of Strength Amid Vulnerability

Looking back on her journey, Clarke’s openness about her struggles with nudity and emotional vulnerability on Game of Thrones highlights her growth as both an actress and a person. Her willingness to confront the discomfort she experienced on set serves as an important reminder of the emotional toll that such scenes can take on actors, particularly when they are thrust into these situations at a young age.

While the wedding night scene may have been a traumatic moment for Clarke, her evolution into a more confident and empowered actress proves that even the most difficult of experiences can lead to personal growth and transformation.