When Emilia Clarke Feared Getting Fired From Game Of Thrones And 'Dying' On Live TV

Emilia Clarke recently opened up about undergoing multiple brain surgeries and recalled the fears she had during the filming of Game of Thrones. The actress, renowned for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in the hit HBO series, revealed in an interview with Big Issue that she worried about being fired due to her health issues. Clarke reportedly suffered two aneurysms, one in 2011 and another in 2013, during earlier seasons of the show. Despite the stress and pressure of performing in front of numerous cast and crew, she returned to the sets soon after her first injury, with only a few people on the team aware of her condition.

The 37-year-old underwent two brain surgeries and at one point, she even tried convincing medical professionals to “end her life”, believing her acting career was over. Clarke said, “When you have a brain injury, because it alters your sense of self on such a dramatic level, all of the insecurities you have going into the workplace quadruple overnight. The first fear we all had was, ‘Oh my God, am I going to get fired? Am I going to get fired because they think I’m not capable of completing the job?’”

However, Emilia Clarke recalls thinking, “Well, if I’m going to die, I better die on live TV. Having a chronic condition that diminishes your confidence in this one thing you feel is your reason to live is so debilitating and so lonely. One of the biggest things I felt with a brain injury was profoundly alone. That is what we’re trying to overcome.”

Further in the interview, the Me Before You actress claimed she once reached a point and felt she couldn’t continue after suffering a brain injury. She even asked doctors to let her die because she feared she wouldn’t be able to act again. However, since then, she has not only survived but succeeded in her career and the actress describes her experience as a “superpower.” Clarke believes that others facing similar challenges can also find their own strengths.

Inspired by her own experiences and witnessing others facing similar health challenges, Emilia Clarke partnered with her mother to establish the charity SameYou in 2019. Their goal is to improve mental health recovery for people who have suffered brain injuries and promote change.