Game of Thrones star says she had just two weeks off in four years at height of HBO series fame

EntertainmentLifestyle
20 May 2026 • 8:07 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Game of Thrones star says she had just two weeks off in four years at height of HBO series fame

  • Emilia Clarke confessed she felt unable to decline work offers while starring in Game of Thrones, leading to her having only two weeks off in a four-year period.
  • The British actor, who played Daenerys Targaryen, stated that the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 marked the first time she had truly rested since she was 19 years old.
  • Clarke attributed her imposter syndrome to significant life events, including two brain aneurysms in 2012 and 2013 that required surgery, and the death of her father from cancer in 2016.
  • She described these experiences as deeply life-altering moments that coincided with her career's peak, causing her to feel that nothing was real and that her success could vanish.
  • Currently, Clarke is starring in the new Sky series Ponies, an American spy thriller, which has garnered positive reviews, especially for the on-screen chemistry with her co-star Haley Lu Richardson.

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