From Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen to Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones was full of iconic performances. Here are the very best.
Many fans were drawn into Game of Thrones by the gorgeous sets, outstanding costumes, and intricate battle sequences featuring brilliant swordplay and CGI dragons. But what makes them stay is the performances by the actors. In its eight-season run, Game of Thrones racked up 32 nominations at the Emmys for the acting alone. Peter Dinklage was the only one to actually win the award, but cast members like Lena Headey were nominated multiple times.
Every actor on this show brings a unique sense of reality to their character that humanizes them. For all the special effects, Game of Thrones really shines in the small moments it gives to its actors. So without further adieu, allow me to rank my top 15 favorite performances, even though I know I will be leaving out plenty of great ones.
Image: Game of Thrones/HBO
15. Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Okay, let the hate comments start. I know what you all are thinking. “The Mother of Dragons at 15! How could anyone be better than the breaker of chains!”
I thought we’d start with a performance as iconic as this so I can better lay out my criteria for this list. Emilia Clarke takes this character on one of television’s best and most exciting journeys. She’s lovable and believable from the start, so much so that even when she turns to the dark side, we still want her to win. Getting to watch her go from the lost girl controlled by her evil brother to the commander of a vast army with three fully grown dragons at her back is one of the best parts of the show.
Clarke makes this character relatable. My favorite moments from her are in the earlier seasons when she is just doing the best she can to survive, whether she’s sobbing at Khal Drogo’s bed and desperately searching for ways to heal him, searching for her dragons in the House of the Undying, or when standing up to her brother. She brings a sense of bravery in the face of extreme fear. Pair that with her powerful screen presence and perfect command of the various fictional languages in Westeros and you have a beautiful performance.
The reason Clarke isn’t higher on this list is because her performance sort of plateaus around the fifth and sixth seasons. After that, her approach feels a little less layered. That’s not to say there aren’t still moments of greatness, though, with Dany’s descent into madness being a particular highlight.
Barristan Selmy once tells us, “madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born…the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.” Clarke has the challenge of balancing both sides of this coin throughout the show, and does so with a grace that only the true Queen of the Seven Kingdoms could bring.
