Emilia Clarke is a British actress best known for her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2011–2019), for which she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Clarke was born in London and raised in Oxfordshire, England. She studied acting at Drama Centre London, graduating in 2009. Her television debut was a guest appearance in the BBC One medical soap opera Doctors in 2009.
Clarke's breakthrough role came in 2011 when she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. The series was a critical and commercial success, and Clarke's performance was widely praised. She became one of the most popular and recognizable actresses in the world.
In addition to Game of Thrones, Clarke has starred in a number of other films and television shows, including:
Terminator Genisys (2015)
Me Before You (2016)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Last Christmas (2019)
Secret Invasion (2023)
Clarke is also a successful stage actress. She has starred in productions of Breakfast at Tiffany's (2013) and The Seagull (2020).
Clarke is a vocal advocate for a number of causes, including brain aneurysm awareness and animal rights. She is also a supporter of the Time's Up movement.
In 2019, Clarke revealed that she had suffered two brain aneurysms during the filming of Game of Thrones. She underwent surgery and made a full recovery. Clarke has since spoken openly about her experience in order to raise awareness about brain aneurysms.
Clarke is a talented and versatile actress who has achieved great success in both film and television. She is also a role model for women and a force for good in the world.