"Emilia Clarke of 'Game of Thrones' considered suicide."
In the hit show "Game of Thrones", Emilia Clarke portrayed the determined Queen Daenerys Targaryen who terrified her enemies. Yet, in reality, Clarke faced significant challenges during this period. She disclosed that she endured two brain aneurysms, which caused not only fear of death but also the fear of getting fired from the series.
Emilia Clarke, whose portrayal as Queen Daenerys Targaryen in "Game of Thrones" skyrocketed her fame from 2011 to 2019, surpassed the expectations of millions of viewers. Nonetheless, her real-life situation during this period was far from perfect.
In a candid conversation with "Big Issue" magazine, Clarke opened up about her struggles, revealing that she had undergone these aneurysms at the age of 24. Interestingly, she feared being fired more than death, as she confided.
Clarke explained that a brain injury significantly changes one's self-image. "All doubts you had about your job multiply overnight," she stated.
After the operation, Clarke's first thought was, "Would I be fired? They might think I can't handle the job?". This fear was so intense that she even implored the doctors to let her die.
Despite conquering these thoughts, her fears reemerged when she returned to work. She fretted that the stress could trigger another brain aneurysm and result in fatal bleeds, Clarke recalled.
Clarke, however, triumphed over the aneurysms twice as a youngster. Her first aneurysm occurred in 2011 following the first season of "Game of Thrones". The rupture of a blood vessel in her brain caused Clarke a stroke. She was forced to undergo another operation in 2013 to eliminate a second aneurysm that resulted in a stroke as well.
Advocating for Mental Health
Though she suffered from temporary speech loss, no long-term impairments affected her. Consequently, she falls under an extremely small percentage of those impacted, which she mentioned in a BBC interview.
Clarke, together with her mother Jennifer Clarke, established the charitable organization "SameYou" in 2019. The mission of this organization revolves around championing the mental health of individuals who have sustained a brain injury. Emilia divulged the motivation behind her advocacy: "The loneliest feeling I experienced after the brain injury was a profound sense of isolation." Adding, "We're working to dismantle this."
For her dedication to the cause, Emilia and Jennifer Clarke were recognized by Prince William in February 2024, entitling them "Member of the Order of the British Empire".
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After her successful portrayal of Queen Daenerys Targaryen in the popular TV series "Game of Thrones", Emilia Clarke faced personal challenges off-screen. She revealed that despite surviving two brain aneurysms, she feared being fired from the show more than death.
In her advocacy for mental health, Clarke shared that one of her main motivations was the sense of isolation she felt after her brain injuries. She and her mother, Jennifer Clarke, established the charitable organization "SameYou" in 2019, which focuses on supporting individuals with brain injuries.
