"I didn't have any input on her storyline, dialogue, or fate."
Emilia Clarke on the Rigors of Game of Thrones
In a recent interview with Variety, Emilia Clarke, best known for playing Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones, revealed that she had no creative input on her character’s storyline, dialogue, or ultimate fate. She explained that showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss required actors to adhere strictly to the script, even calling for retakes if an actor said "it's" instead of "it is."
"I did not seek creative input, believing I was 'not qualified.'"
Clarke confirmed she could not alter Daenerys' fate, despite the widespread fan backlash against the final season. In those final episodes, Daenerys transformed from a beloved hero into a city-burning conqueror, ultimately killed by Jon Snow.
A New Perspective on the Role
While the journey was intense, Clarke now says she is grateful for the role and no longer feels trapped by it. She also clarified comments made earlier this year about the show’s linguist, David J. Peterson, who had noted her Dothraki pronunciation was not perfect. Clarke said she had simply misunderstood his statement.
Looking ahead, she indicated she is unlikely to take on further fantasy roles.