Trending Now - Emilia Clarke Reflects on Career Missteps and Survival Guilt
WHO:
Gizmodo - Emilia Clarke rose to fame playing Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones.
Variety - Emilia Clarke is known for her roles in big-budget films like "Terminator" and "Star Wars" spinoffs.
WHAT:
Gizmodo - Emilia Clarke stated, “I entered into already existing franchises, so when they don’t work out, it’s not personal,” regarding her perspective on her roles in unsuccessful franchises.
Gizmodo - Clarke expressed gratitude for her experiences, saying, “I have gone through every circuitous route to get to the place that I am now, which is finally being able to be very grateful for everything that Game of Thrones did and has given me.”
Gizmodo - Clarke mentioned she no longer feels trapped by her role in Game of Thrones, stating, “I feel just really lucky that it happened to me—even luckier that I’ve had time to understand what that was, and now I feel firmly on the other side.”
Gizmodo - Clarke reflected on her career missteps, including her roles in "Solo: A Star Wars Story," "Terminator Genisys," and the Marvel series "Secret Invasion."
Gizmodo - Clarke stated, “No one liked that show, guys,” referring to "Secret Invasion."
Gizmodo - Clarke mentioned, “Star Wars? They didn’t like it. Terminator? That should never have happened,” regarding the reception of her franchise roles.
Variety - Clarke expressed that she felt she had "cheated death" and experienced survivor's guilt.
WHERE:
Gizmodo - The discussion about Clarke's career took place in an interview with Variety.
WHEN:
Variety - Clarke woke up with a goal the morning after the 2019 Emmy Awards to redefine her view of success.
WHY:
Gizmodo - Clarke indicated that her experiences in unsuccessful franchises taught her to be more selective in her career choices, stating, “I need to wait for the right thing.”
HOW:
Gizmodo - Clarke described her approach to her role in Game of Thrones, emphasizing her focus on understanding and tracking every choice her character made to ensure it felt authentic.
Gizmodo - Clarke described her approach to her role in Game of Thrones, saying, “I was given the seasons, and I, to the best of my ability, empathized and understood and tracked every choice she made so it felt like mine.”
(UPDATED May 30, 2026 01:34 UTC)
Emilia Clarke recently shared her thoughts on her journey through various franchises, noting that when they don't succeed, it's not personal. She expressed gratitude for her experiences, particularly highlighting how Game of Thrones has shaped her perspective, stating she feels lucky to have had the time to understand her role and now feels free from it. Clarke also emphasized her commitment to authenticity in her portrayal, explaining that she meticulously tracked every choice her character made to ensure it resonated with audiences.
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(UPDATED May 29, 2026 23:23 UTC)
Emilia Clarke, who gained fame as Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones, recently reflected on her career missteps during an interview with Variety, mentioning her roles in "Solo: A Star Wars Story," "Terminator Genisys," and the Marvel series "Secret Invasion." She candidly stated, “No one liked that show, guys,” while expressing her feelings of survivor's guilt and emphasizing the lessons learned from her experiences in unsuccessful franchises, saying, “I need to wait for the right thing.” Clarke also shared her dedication to her role in Game of Thrones, explaining, “I was given the seasons, and I, to the best of my ability, empathized and understood and tracked every choice she made so it felt like mine.”