The One Movie Emilia Clarke Fought for—And Why She Nearly Didn’t Get the Role!

Emilia Clarke may be best known worldwide as Daenerys Targaryen, the fiery “Mother of Dragons” from HBO’s Game of Thrones, but there’s one role that captured her heart long before she soared with dragons: Louisa Clark in the 2016 romantic drama Me Before You. While Clarke’s career spans galactic criminals in Solo: A Star Wars Story and action icons in Terminator Genisys, it was this tender, bittersweet love story that she desperately wanted to bring to life.

In interviews around the film’s release, Clarke openly expressed how deeply connected she felt to Jojo Moyes’ bestselling novel. “I knew as soon as I read the first pages of the book that it was something I wanted to do,” she revealed. Unlike many roles she’s landed or pursued, Clarke was notably proactive—some say she even “begged”—to play Louisa, a character whose warmth, humor, and vulnerability she longed to embody.

Directed by Thea Sharrock, Me Before You pairs Clarke’s bright and spirited Louisa with Sam Claflin’s Will Traynor, a man paralyzed by an accident. Set against the lush British countryside, the film explores love, loss, and the complexities of human connection. Critics praised Clarke’s performance for its emotional authenticity, revealing a softer, more relatable side distinct from the stoic and action-driven roles that had defined much of her earlier work.

Looking back at her other films—Terminator Genisys, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Last Christmas—none generated the same heartfelt yearning Clarke expressed for Me Before You. Even roles she reportedly missed, such as an audition for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, didn’t seem to stir as much passion.

For Clarke, Me Before You was far more than a film gig. It was a pivotal opportunity to step out of Daenerys’ shadow and showcase her range as an actress. More importantly, it was a chance to honor the hope, heartbreak, and joy found in ordinary lives. Whether or not she literally begged for the part, Clarke’s determined pursuit made it happen—and gave fans one of her most endearing, memorable performances to date.