“The more you’ve lived, the more you can empathize with others – and that’s what acting is about.”
EMILIA CLARKE is a globally renowned actress, best known for her iconic role as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s record-breaking fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. Beyond her work in fantasy epics and Hollywood blockbusters, Clarke is a survivor of two life-threatening brain aneurysms in her 20s – a journey that inspired her to establish SameYou in 2019, a charity dedicated to raising awareness and supporting people in recovery from brain injuries. Through her acting, philanthropy, and advocacy, Clarke continues to prove herself as a force of resilience and inspiration, both on and off screen. In recent years, Emilia has combined her acting work with her creative projects and SameYou’s initiatives – including fundraising through NFTs in collaboration with Deepak Chopra. Although she is celebrated worldwide for her acting work, her charity work has not gone unnoticed either as she was awarded an MBE title by Prince William at Windsor Castle for her services to people with a brain injury.
GEORGINA LARA BOOTH interviewed Emilia Clarke about challenges in the acting world, her recovery journey, her charity work, and what it means to step into armour – both on the red carpet and in real life.
Hi Emilia! It’s so lovely to meet you! How are you?
“Hi, Georgina, it’s so nice to meet you! I’m good, thank you!”
The past couple of years have been very challenging for actors, due to the pandemic and the actors’ strikes. How have these difficult times impacted you as an actress?
“Yeah, it’s been interesting… I’ve never up until that point of the pandemic not worked for that long, so it was difficult. And then I realized that I was actually doing good work I needed to do. I obviously did lots of charity stuff and I have a production company, so I’ve been good and busy really!”
“The hardest thing I have ever done is raising money for charity.”
Tell me more about your wonderful charity SameYou and the charitable projects you’ve been working on. You even launched an NFT fundraiser, right?
“So yes, basically I realized that the hardest thing I have ever done is trying to raise money for charity. It’s very difficult. There are so many worthy causes out there, and people have a tough time deciding where to put their money. During the pandemic, every charity struggled, and yet the need for support increased massively. SameYou is so close to my heart because it comes from my own experiences with brain injury. The lack of awareness is staggering – one in three people will suffer a brain injury in their lifetime, but people don’t want to see it, they don’t want to talk about it, and that creates shame and isolation for survivors.
What you’re left with after the hospital saves your life is… the rest of your life. Rehabilitation is almost nonexistent, and that’s what we are fighting for – real support, awareness, empathy. Trying to raise funds for something people often want to look away from is hard. But that’s why we thought about new ways, like NFTs, which can make people feel part of something and give them something beautiful back while helping the cause.”
How did the collaboration with Deepak Chopra on the NFT project come about?
“It was a mixture of things. With charities, you end up talking to so many generous people who connect you with others. Deepak and I found each other through those channels, and his ethos aligned perfectly with what SameYou stands for. He already had partnerships in that space, so when he suggested doing an NFT for good, it felt right. I wanted something modern that could actually give back to donors in a meaningful way, and that’s what we achieved together.”
Red carpets are a minefield — it’s hard to feel great with all the flashing cameras and nerves. But this was the first time I put on a dress and felt powerful. It was literally armour, and it was so heavy.
The NFT featured your iconic red Versace dress from the Emmys. Why that particular dress?
“Red carpets are a minefield — it’s hard to feel great with all the flashing cameras and nerves. But this was the first time I put on a dress and felt powerful. It was literally armour, and it was so heavy. I wore it not long after my dad passed away, and my mum came with me to that event. It felt like stepping out of darkness into light, with him in our hearts. Versace know how to dress a woman, and that gown gave me strength. That’s why I wanted it to be the centerpiece of the NFT project.”
You must have worn a lot of armour on the Game of Thrones set too?
“Not as much as you’d think, actually! And none of it was as beautifully molded to me as that dress.”
I was more scared of being fired from Game of Thrones than of dying… I was sitting on the golden ticket as a young actress just coming out of drama school.
You’ve spoken openly about your brain aneurysms. How are you doing now?
“I’m doing really well. At the time, the fatigue was the hardest thing – it’s so misunderstood. It’s not just being tired, it’s a weight you carry all the time. I went back to work quickly, honestly because I was more scared of being fired from Game of Thrones than of dying… I was sitting on the golden ticket as a young actress just coming out of drama school. Now I get regular scans to make sure everything is fine, and I am. If anything, my experiences have made me a better actress. The more you’ve lived, the more you can empathize with others – and that’s what acting is about.”
Raising awareness is vital, and every bit of support makes a difference.
“Yes, I just want to encourage people to be part of the change. One in three people will suffer a brain injury, so this is something that touches all of us. Raising awareness is vital, and every bit of support makes a difference. And with the NFT, you’re not just donating — you’re receiving something beautiful in return, while being part of building a better world for survivors.”
Thank you so much, Emilia. It’s been such a joy speaking with you!
“Thank you, Georgina! This was lovely.”
