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

Emilia Clarke may be forever etched in the minds of millions as Daenerys Targaryen, the fierce “Mother of Dragons” from Game of Thrones, but there’s another role that truly captured her heart long before the cameras started rolling. That role was Louisa Clark in the 2016 romantic drama Me Before You—a tender, bittersweet love story that Clarke desperately wanted to bring to life.

While her career has ranged from galactic criminals in Solo: A Star Wars Story to action icons in Terminator Genisys, it was Me Before You that sparked an uncommon passion in Clarke. In interviews around the film’s release, she made no secret of how determined she was to land the part. “I knew as soon as I read the first pages of the book that it was something I wanted to do,” Clarke revealed, referring to Jojo Moyes’ bestselling novel that inspired the film.

Her connection to Louisa was profound—so much so that she actively pursued the role, something she rarely admits about her other projects. While it might be journalistic hyperbole to say she “begged” for it, there’s no doubt Clarke lobbied hard, drawn to Louisa’s warmth, humor, and vulnerability—qualities that allowed her to show a side of herself beyond dragons and epic battles.

Directed by Thea Sharrock, Me Before You pairs Clarke’s effervescent Louisa with Sam Claflin’s Will Traynor, a once-vibrant man paralyzed after a tragic accident. Set against the lush British countryside, the film delicately explores love, loss, and the transformative power of human connection. Critics praised Clarke’s performance for its emotional authenticity, highlighting her ability to embody a character so different from her more stoic or action-packed roles.

A glance at Clarke’s other film roles—Terminator Genisys, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Last Christmas—reveals enthusiasm but lacks the heartfelt yearning she expressed for Me Before You. Even roles she reportedly auditioned for, like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, never sparked the same level of public desire or personal investment.

For Emilia Clarke, Me Before You was far more than just another film credit. It was her opportunity to step out of the shadow cast by dragons and empires, and to demonstrate the breadth of her talent. It was a chance to honor the hope, heartbreak, and joy found in ordinary lives. Whether she “begged” or simply fought tenaciously, Clarke’s determined pursuit of Louisa Clark gave audiences one of her most endearing and memorable performances to date.