Fifteen years after Game of Thrones first premiered in 2011, Emilia Clarke says she has fully made peace with being forever known as the “Dragon Lady.” In a new interview with Digital Spy, the actress who brought Daenerys Targaryen to life reflected warmly on her iconic role and the lasting impact it has had on her life and career.
Quick read:
- Emilia Clarke has accepted that she’ll always be “That Dragon Lady”
- She has hesitated being associated with Daenerys forever in the past
- She takes absolute pride in that now
Credit: HBO
Always that Dragon Lady
When asked about how she feels about still being so closely associated with Daenerys, Clarke responded with acceptance and good humour:
“I’ll probably always be that dragon lady and that’s okay.”
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She explained that after years of struggling with the intense fame and expectations that came with the role, she has now reached a place of genuine gratitude and comfort with her legacy.
From “Dragon Lady” to lasting pride
Clarke admitted that for a long time the constant association with Daenerys felt overwhelming. But now, 15 years on, she views it differently. She recognises that playing the Mother of Dragons changed her life and gave her a place in pop culture history that very few actors ever achieve. So, rather than trying to distance herself from the character, Clarke now embraces the title with a sense of pride and affection.
Looking back on the Game of Thrones legacy
The original series ended in 2019, but its cultural footprint remains enormous. With spin-offs like House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continuing to expand the universe, new generations are still discovering the show, something Clarke has previously described as “amazing.”
Even though she has admitted she hasn’t watched House of the Dragon (comparing it to attending “someone else’s high school reunion”), she remains supportive of the franchise and the new actors carrying the Targaryen story forward.
