The Fear Emilia Clarke Had About Getting Fired from Game of Thrones

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After suffering from a brain hemorrhage, Emilia Clarke's biggest fear was being fired from her role in Game of Thrones.

Due to her brain hemorrhage, Clarke suffered from aphasia, causing her to be concerned about the stability of her career as an actor. However, in spite of this health setback, she resiliently persisted and consistently delivered outstanding performances in Game of Thrones, leading to her receiving four Emmy nominations.

Emilia Clarke feared losing her role in Game of Thrones following her brain hemorrhage. The British actress portrayed the character Daenerys Targaryen, the banished Princess with ambitions of reclaiming her late father's Iron Throne and ruling over the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros for the entirety of HBO's immensely popular fantasy drama's eight-season run. However, after experiencing a brain hemorrhage and suffering from aphasia in 2011, Clarke faced a serious threat to her job security on the show.

In a recent profile featured in Harper's Bazaar, Clarke candidly discussed her experience with the brain hemorrhage. While acknowledging the 33 percent mortality rate associated with the condition, the actress revealed that her main concern was not death, but rather losing her role in Game of Thrones. Read her account below:

I wasn't scared of dying. I dreaded getting dismissed from my job! I made a resolution: "This experience will not shape my identity." I never succumbed to thoughts like "Why is this happening to me? This is awful." I simply thought - I have to bounce back.

Emilia Clarke's Brain Hemorrhages Explained

Following the first season of Game of Thrones, Clarke decided to engage in a workout session to alleviate the stress of filming. However, she began experiencing a "bad headache." Unexpectedly, while exercising, she collapsed and was promptly taken to the hospital. It was there that she received a swift diagnosis of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which refers to bleeding around the brain. It is worth noting that surviving such a medical emergency is considered fortunate since it leads to immediate death for approximately one-third of all patients.

Two years later, Clarke experienced another brain hemorrhage that resulted in a failed operation to address the bleeding. Consequently, she endured excruciating pain and struggled with aphasia, a language disorder. These challenges instilled a deep fear in her as an actor, particularly regarding job security on Game of Thrones. She felt shattered, apprehensive that the show's producers would perceive her as unreliable and terminate her employment.

With unwavering determination and perseverance, Clarke triumphed over aphasia, with many remaining oblivious to her struggle until 2019, when she disclosed her two life-threatening brain hemorrhages. Astonishingly, her health issues never compromised her performance on Game of Thrones, earning her four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Additionally, Clarke now spearheads the charity SameYou, dedicated to aiding survivors in their journey to recovery from brain injuries.

Source: Harper’s Bazaar

Editor's P/S

Emilia Clarke's resilience and determination in the face of her brain hemorrhages are truly inspiring. Despite the very real possibility of losing her role in Game of Thrones, she remained focused and committed to her performance, delivering outstanding work that earned her four Emmy nominations. Her story is a reminder that we should never give up on our dreams, no matter what obstacles we face.

Clarke's experience also highlights the importance of early detection and treatment of brain hemorrhages. Thanks to the quick diagnosis and intervention of medical professionals, she was able to survive and make a full recovery. This story serves as a reminder that we should all be aware of the signs and symptoms of brain hemorrhages and seek medical attention immediately if we experience any of them.