Emilia Clarke Talks Game of Thrones

NEW YORK: Emilia Clarke talks to World Screen about playing the role of Daenerys Targaryen in the megahit Game of Thrones, which was the big winner at this year's Emmys.

WS: Daenerys has transformed from a fearful girl to a very determined Khaleesi. How do you balance her vulnerability against her determination?
CLARKE: Well, I’ve been very lucky because I’ve been with her from the beginning. Unlike many characters that you read as an actor, you see Daenerys change from the beginning where she is fearful and timid and pushed upon by the strength of the male-dominated society that she finds herself in. I got to go from the very beginning, so I got to be timid and frightened and scared, and then have these gorgeous scenes like when she first stops Viserys, her brother, from slapping her. And then marrying Khal Drogo and the strength he gave her so she could feel like a woman for the first time. Then taking it all the way to the end of that season, when giving birth to dragons and surviving fire, so it’s never been a very conscious decision as to how I balanced the two. It’s been more a matter of taking each thing as it comes and playing the truth of that, and the logical conclusion is the balance of vulnerability and strength that she has. Every choice that Daenerys makes from here on out is because she’s felt what it is to be sold. She’s felt what it is to be abused, and she’s also felt what it is to take back what is hers, and stand there with balls bigger than any guy in the room!

WS: Absolutely. I imagine that in real life you have not been a queen, nor have you led an army! What do you draw upon when you’re in those scenes?
CLARKE: Oh my goodness, we are so fortunate with Game of Thrones that every single part of our show—the set, the costumes, the detail that goes into every single department—really means that there’s not a huge amount of acting required when placed into that environment. You get to say the genius words that David [Benioff] and Daniel [Weiss] have written, inspired by George R. R. Martin’s genius story. It all just falls into place perfectly when you allow yourself to be as present in that moment as possible. What I’m saying is, I’m not really sure how I find the strength that she has! It’s all Daenerys—it just feels very natural.

WS: What have you learned about acting from the experience on Game of Thrones and from the other actors on the show?
CLARKE: So much. So much. When I was at drama school we had one acting for camera class [and they] just showed us a Michael Caine video that told us how to hit our mark. I really didn’t have a lot of camera experience before coming into this. I have learned everything that I know about acting for camera and about how a set works and operates and the best kind of behavior that you can have as an actor within that set, in a very safe environment. I feel very safe and helped by absolutely every member of the cast and crew, really. Especially since I had Iain Glen [who plays Jorah Mormont] as my confidant for so long. He really did spend a lot of his time mentoring me, Emilia, as much as Jorah does mentoring Daenerys. My goodness, he knows the ropes! Many an epiphany after a discussion with Mr. Iain Glen!

This interview continues here.