She Was Already a Star, But Emilia Clarke Still Had to Fight for This Role — And Came Shockingly Close to Losing It

By the time Me Before You went into production, Emilia Clarke was already a household name. As Daenerys Targaryen, the “Mother of Dragons” on Game of Thrones, she had commanded armies, conquered cities, and captured the imagination of millions. But beneath the armor and fire, Clarke longed to play a role worlds away from Westeros: Louisa Clark, the effervescent, small-town heroine at the heart of Jojo Moyes’ bestselling romantic drama.

Unlike many of her previous roles—which seemed to come to her amid the momentum of her meteoric rise—this was one Clarke actively fought to secure. Speaking in interviews around the 2016 film’s release, she recalled how she felt an instant connection after reading the novel. “I knew as soon as I read the first pages of the book that it was something I wanted to do,” she said. The pull was so strong that Clarke—rarely one to use the word “beg”—lobbied with unusual persistence for the chance to bring Louisa’s warmth, humor, and resilience to life.

A Passion Project With High Stakes

Directed by Thea Sharrock, Me Before You tells the story of Louisa, a quirky, optimistic young woman who becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy man left paralyzed after an accident. The tender, bittersweet romance that unfolds became a critical test for Clarke—an opportunity to shed the epic gravitas of her past roles and show audiences a more grounded, emotionally vulnerable side.

The stakes were high. This wasn’t just a coveted role; it was a character who had already won over millions of readers. Clarke’s challenge was to honor Louisa’s essence while making her feel alive onscreen—a task that required emotional precision rather than the spectacle of dragons or battlefields.

From Dragons to Everyday Heartbreak

Clarke’s performance won praise for its authenticity, revealing a side of her artistry often overshadowed by blockbuster fare like Terminator Genisys and Solo: A Star Wars Story. As Louisa, she traded armor for bumblebee-striped tights, delivering a portrayal filled with warmth, awkward charm, and quiet strength. Critics and fans alike noted how Clarke managed to capture the character’s optimism without shying away from the story’s emotional weight.

While Clarke had been linked to numerous big-screen opportunities—including rumored auditions for Captain America: The Winter Soldier—none seemed to ignite the same passion. Me Before You, she has said, was different. It was deeply personal.

Why This Role Mattered

For Clarke, winning the role of Louisa Clark wasn’t just about diversifying her career—it was about proving to herself, and to the industry, that she could embody the beauty, fragility, and transformative power of everyday love stories. The fight to secure the part stands as one of the few times she’s openly admitted to campaigning so hard for a role, and the result was one of her most heartfelt performances.

It may not have required dragons, swords, or intergalactic smuggling runs, but Me Before You remains one of Clarke’s most treasured projects—an intimate story she refused to let slip away, and one that allowed her to connect with audiences in an entirely new way.