Emilia Clarke Feared Losing Her Role in Game of Thrones After Brain Injury

Emilia Clarke has opened up about her fears of losing her role in Game of Thrones following a brain bleed she suffered in 2011. The 37-year-old actress, known for her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in the hit fantasy series, revealed that the incident occurred while she was working out in a gym in north London.

Clarke chose to keep her injury largely a secret from her colleagues and the public, fearing that the show’s executives might doubt her ability to perform her duties. In a recent interview with the Big Issue, she candidly discussed the challenges she faced in returning to work after the injury.

“When you have a brain injury, because it alters your sense of self on such a dramatic level, all of the insecurities you have going into the workplace quadruple overnight,” Clarke shared. “The first fear we all had was: ‘Oh my god, am I going to get fired? Am I going to get fired because they think I’m not capable of completing the job?’”

Despite the severity of her condition, Clarke was back on set within weeks of her first brain bleed. However, the stress and pressure of working in front of thousands of people and cameras made her fear that she might suffer another haemorrhage.

Her worries were compounded in 2013 when doctors discovered a second brain haemorrhage while she was still acting on the series. This added to her anxiety about her health and job security.

Clarke’s decision to keep her condition private stemmed from a desire to avoid being perceived as weak or incapable.