Emilia Clarke studied speeches given by dictators, including Nazi Germanyâs Adolf Hitler, to help her prepare for that epic address she gave as Daenerys Targaryen in the final episode of âGame of Thrones.â
The British actress said she âwatched a lot of videosâ of dictators and powerful leaders speaking in different languages ahead of giving the speech in Dothraki and Valyrian to her characterâs army from the steps of the Red Keep.
Clarke wanted âto see if I could understand what they were saying without knowing the language,â she revealed in an interview with Variety published Tuesday.
âAnd you can!â she continued. âYou absolutely can understand what Hitlerâs fucking saying, these single-focus orators speaking a foreign language.â
It calmed Clarkeâs nerves about the speech â which she described as âone of the most solidifying, integral momentsâ for her character â because âI thought, âIf I can believe every single word Iâm saying, the audience wonât need to be looking at the subtitles too much,ââ she added.
And despite enduring a sleepless and tearful night ahead of filming the scene (which actually took place in front of a green screen), Clarke said she nailed it on the first attempt.