Emilia Clarke, renowned for her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in the critically acclaimed series Game of Thrones, embarked on a life-changing journey when she joined the stellar cast of the show. While her performance earned her international acclaim, Clarke’s feelings mirrored those of the fans when it came to the series finale, leaving her somewhat disappointed.

However, there was more to Emilia Clarke’s experience during the filming of Game of Thrones than mere disappointment. Behind the scenes, the British actress harbored deep concerns about her own life, fearing for her safety while working on the controversial HBO series.

Emilia Clarke’s Health Struggles: A Secret Battle

The HBO series Game of Thrones, which spanned eight seasons, became a cultural phenomenon after its release, drawing audiences from around the world into the intricate world of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. With a star-studded cast that included Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, and Lena Headey, the show depicted the epic struggle for the Iron Throne among seven kingdoms.

Emilia Clarke, in her role as Daenerys Targaryen, garnered immense popularity and recognition. Nevertheless, Clarke openly expressed her dissatisfaction with the series finale, a sentiment shared by many fans. She particularly disliked the transformation of her character into the primary antagonist, leading to her demise at the hands of Jon Snow.

However, Emilia Clarke’s personal trials during the filming of Game of Thrones were as challenging as those of her character. Unbeknownst to the public, she was grappling with a severe health issue while portraying Daenerys Targaryen. Clarke revealed that she had suffered a brain aneurysm shortly after completing the first season, experiencing a brain hemorrhage while working out at a gym in London.

Despite the life-threatening health scare, Emilia Clarke displayed incredible resilience and returned to the set of Game of Thrones just a few weeks after undergoing surgery. In a poignant 2019 article penned for The New Yorker, she described the ordeal of concealing her recovering condition beneath her character’s signature blond wig while filming. She vividly recalled feeling as though an elastic band was constricting her brain.

Clarke’s determination to continue her career amidst adversity was further evident when she canceled scheduled interviews due to what she initially believed was a heatstroke. Eventually, she received a diagnosis of a brain aneurysm, leading to emergency brain surgery. Although the procedure temporarily left her with memory loss, she defied the odds by resuming her role on the Game of Thrones set within weeks of her surgery.

Emilia Clarke’s Ordeal On The Game Of Thrones Set

However, Clarke’s health battles were far from over. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she disclosed that she had been warned about the potential recurrence of another growth in her head that could rupture at any moment. This grim possibility weighed heavily on her mind, especially during the arduous conditions of filming in a scorching desert quarry with temperatures soaring to ninety degrees.

Clarke candidly expressed the intensity of her fear, saying, “It was crazy intense. We are in the desert in a quarry in like ninety-degree heat, and I had the consistent fear that I was going to have another brain hemorrhage. I spent a lot of time just being like: ‘Am I gonna die? Is that gonna happen on set? Because that would be really inconvenient.'”

Despite the persistent fatigue and the ever-present dread of collapsing in the desert, Emilia Clarke persevered, both in her health battle and in delivering a phenomenal performance as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. Her unwavering commitment to her craft, even in the face of life-threatening challenges, remains a testament to her strength and determination.