Emilia Clarke says Daenerys was asking her “to step up” in the beginning of Game of Thrones

At Variety’s Power of Women London event, Emilia Clarke opened up about the daunting early days of Game of Thrones. Clarke, who was just 23 when she began portraying Daenerys Targaryen, admitted that stepping into the role required more confidence than she initially had. She described how embodying the Mother of Dragons pushed her to grow, even when she felt terrified behind the scenes.

Quick read

• Clarke says Daenerys “was asking me to step up.”
• She relied on “fake it ’til you make it” in the beginning.
• Playing Daenerys gave her a rush of power and confidence.

Daenerys asking Clarke to step up

Clarke explained how the role pushed her beyond her comfort zone: “Well, it took a lot of confidence to be able to do that role. So in the beginning, at least, it was almost as if… in playing the role… Daenerys was asking me to step up. And so you’re like, ‘Fake it ’til you make it,’ right? That was kind of it.” Her words reveal how she relied on determination and resilience to carry her through the early seasons, even when she doubted herself.

#EmiliaClarke says it “took a lot of confidence” to play Daenerys on #GameOfThrones:

“In the beginning, at least, it was almost as if Daenerys was asking me to step up.”

Variety’s Power of Women London event presented by@lifetimetv and @AE_GlobalMedia. pic.twitter.com/FOLLumNdse

— Variety (@Variety) June 3, 2026

From fear to feeling powerful

Clarke went on to describe how the role transformed her: “And so in doing it — even though I was terrified beforehand — I would get this rush after having spoken to all my people, coming out the fire. So Daenerys is the one who made me feel powerful.” The experience mirrored Daenerys’ own journey, turning fear into strength and giving Clarke a sense of empowerment that stayed with her long after filming.

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