Emilia Clarke Opens Up About the Game of Thrones Scene She Feared Would End Her Career

Emilia Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones captivated audiences worldwide for eight seasons. But behind the acclaim was a moment in the series finale that left Clarke deeply unsettled—so much so that she feared it could derail her acting career entirely.

The scene in question is the dramatic conclusion where Daenerys, having transformed into the “Mad Queen,” is killed by Jon Snow. Upon receiving the final script, Clarke was “flabbergasted” by the unexpected twist. The shift in her character’s arc was challenging to process, as it diverged sharply from the hopeful, idealistic young woman she had embodied since the beginning of the show.

Despite her initial shock and reservations, Clarke committed fully to the role, determined to portray Daenerys’s complexity with honesty and nuance. She sought to reveal the vulnerability behind the character’s descent—a woman shaped and ultimately consumed by grief, trauma, and loss. Clarke has expressed a hope that viewers remember Daenerys not just for her final fall, but for her early qualities: “young, naive, childlike, open, and full of love and hope.”

Filming that final scene took an emotional toll. Clarke shared that after wrapping, she wandered the streets of London for hours, trying to come to terms with the end of her decade-long journey with Daenerys. Turning to a glass of wine for comfort, she found it offered little solace, underscoring the weight of the moment for her personally.

In interviews, Clarke has addressed the mixed fan and critical reactions to Daenerys’s controversial ending. While understanding the debate, she stands firmly by her portrayal, emphasizing that the character’s drastic actions were born from profound pain rather than simple villainy.

Ultimately, Emilia Clarke’s performance in that pivotal scene highlighted her dedication to exploring complex emotional terrain, even when the story took an unexpected and difficult path. Her commitment ensured Daenerys’s final chapter was delivered with depth and humanity, sealing Clarke’s legacy as one of television’s most compelling actresses.