The Role Emilia Clarke Regrets Most: ‘I Was Just Not Ready’ – Find Out Why

Emilia Clarke’s meteoric rise to fame seemed almost effortless. Practically overnight, the unknown British actress became a global sensation as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s fantasy phenomenon Game of Thrones. Alongside co-stars like Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, and Maisie Williams, Clarke was thrust into the Hollywood spotlight, quickly landing roles in major franchises like Terminator Genisys and Solo: A Star Wars Story. But behind the glittering ascent, Clarke experienced one harsh and humbling setback—one she openly admits was a “catastrophic failure.”

In 2013, while still riding the growing wave of her Game of Thrones fame, Clarke took a bold leap into the world of live theater, accepting the role of Holly Golightly in a Broadway adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the iconic 1961 film that immortalized Audrey Hepburn’s image. It was an audacious move, and as it turned out, a misstep she was not yet prepared to handle.

“It was just not ready,” Clarke confessed to the BBC. “Was I ready? No, I was definitely not ready. I was a baby. I was so young and so inexperienced.”

Despite being 27 at the time, Clarke’s professional resume was still relatively thin. Outside of Game of Thrones, her only major film credit had been a supporting role in Dom Hemingway, and her stage experience was limited. Taking on a role as iconic as Holly Golightly—under the intense scrutiny of New York’s notoriously tough theater critics—was a daunting task for even the most seasoned performers. For Clarke, the inexperience, coupled with the massive expectations attached to her rising fame, proved overwhelming.

Critics were unsparing, with many describing the production as flat and unfocused, and singling out Clarke’s performance as lacking the effortless charm and complexity needed for such an iconic character. In hindsight, Clarke’s willingness to reflect on the experience with honesty and self-awareness speaks volumes about her resilience.

Since the end of Game of Thrones in 2019, Clarke’s post-Westeros career has been a mixed bag. While she has not yet found another defining role, she has enjoyed modest success with projects like Marvel’s Secret Invasion miniseries and the festive rom-com Last Christmas. Still, the ups and downs of her journey have showcased a determination to keep challenging herself, even when the risk leads to failure.

The Broadway misstep might have been painful, but it also added a layer of humility and grit to Clarke’s evolving career. As she continues to seek out new opportunities, it’s clear that her story is far from over—proving that even catastrophic failures can become stepping stones to something greater.