Emilia Clarke on Daenerys’s Dragons: The True Love Behind the Mother of Dragons

Emilia Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2011–2019) captivated millions, not only for the character’s fierce rise from exile to queen but also for her profound bond with her dragons. Clarke has described this relationship with a depth and tenderness that reveals the dragons as more than just fantastical creatures—they are, in many ways, Daenerys’s true love.

In a revealing 2017 interview with TIME magazine, Clarke opened up about the unique maternal connection she felt toward the dragons, despite the fact that on set, the fearsome beasts were represented by bright-green mechanical rigs. She explained, “there is this maternal connection I had with the dragons from day one. I really got into Daenerys’s head, and the dragons are on so many levels the only children she’ll ever know.” This poignant insight underscores how the dragons symbolize the emotional core of Daenerys’s character: a surrogate family filling the void left by loss and loneliness.

Clarke emphasized that Daenerys’s love is abundant but isolated—“She has a huge amount of love to give, and all her family’s gone. She’s alone.” In this way, the dragons embody not just power and majesty but also profound emotional support, offering Daenerys a rare source of security and belonging in a world that often betrays her.

Despite the mechanical nature of filming, Clarke’s method acting created a genuine emotional bond with these rigs, likening the experience to convincing herself she was “in love with that person” to bring authenticity to the performance. Riding the mechanical dragons—described as akin to a mechanical bull—she felt empowered, allowing Daenerys’s insecurities to fall away in those moments.

This connection between Daenerys and her dragons perfectly mirrors the character’s arc: from vulnerable exile to a formidable leader who commands loyalty and fear through her mythical companions. Clarke described the dragons as “a physical part of her,” a manifestation of Daenerys’s strength and maternal instincts in a harsh, patriarchal world. The dragons serve as both her weapon and her family, symbolizing resilience born from suffering.

While Clarke never explicitly labeled the dragons as Daenerys’s “true love,” her words suggest a relationship deeper and more secure than any she shared with human characters like Daario, Tyrion, or Jorah. The dragons are unique—their loyalty unquestioned, their bond irreplaceable.

This intimate perspective on the Mother of Dragons enriches our understanding of Daenerys as a character defined not just by fire and conquest, but by a fierce, loving, and maternal heart—embodied in the mythical creatures she commands and cherishes above all else.