Emilia Clarke says she had survivor’s guilt after brain hemorrhages during ‘Game of Thrones’: 'I had cheated death'

Emilia Clarke has opened up about the emotional cost of surviving two brain hemorrhages while filming ‘Game of Thrones,’ saying she once feared death was still chasing her. The actor, who played Daenerys Targaryen on HBO’s hit series, also addressed old salary rumors, the backlash to the show’s finale, her post-franchise career, and her hope for a second season of ‘Ponies.’

Emilia Clarke's brain hemorrhage recovery

In a new interview with Variety, Clarke said her health crisis left her shaken long after the surgeries ended. “For a number of years, I felt that I had cheated death, and it was coming to get me,” she said. “I truly felt like I had done something wrong, and I shouldn’t be here.”

Clarke suffered her first brain hemorrhage after wrapping Season 1 of ‘Game of Thrones.’ She had another after Season 3. She later launched SameYou, a charity focused on brain injury recovery, in 2019.

“I know what it feels like to leave hospital and not know where to turn,” she said.

Clarke also spoke about the final season of ‘Game of Thrones,’ where Daenerys was killed by Jon Snow just as she reached the Iron Throne. She said she was “absolutely livid” about how the character died.

After losing the 2019 Emmy to Jodie Comer, Clarke said she woke up the next morning and decided to change how she viewed success. “I do not like that person,” she recalled thinking.

Emilia Clarke talks ‘Ponies,’ ‘Next Life’ and salary rumors

Clarke denied reports that the main ‘Game of Thrones’ cast earned USD 300,000 per episode. “We didn’t earn that much. Can you imagine? I’d have been driving a couple of Porsches!”

She also reflected on mixed reactions to ‘Terminator Genisys,’ ‘Solo: A Star Wars Movie’ and ‘Secret Invasion.’ “‘Star Wars’? They didn’t like it. ‘Terminator’? That should never have happened. But these were jobs I said yes to,” she said.

Her upcoming film ‘Next Life’ will premiere at Tribeca. She also stars in Prime Video’s ‘Criminal’ and Peacock’s ‘Ponies,’ whose team is hoping for Season 2. Clarke said she feels lucky to be on “the other side” of ‘Game of Thrones’ now.