Emilia Clarke on Life After Dragons

After nearly a decade spent ruling the Seven Kingdoms, Emilia Clarke is officially closing the chapter on fantasy. The actress, who rose to global fame as the Mother of Dragons, has indicated that her days of getting on a dragon—or even standing in the same frame as one—are likely over.

Speaking on her career trajectory following the conclusion of Game of Thrones, Clarke is looking toward a future defined by creative autonomy rather than epic fantasy. Her recent statements paint a picture of an actress eager to explore new genres and distance herself from the massive shadow cast by her most famous role.

Clarke’s tenure as Daenerys Targaryen spanned the entire run of the HBO series, solidifying her status as a television icon. However, the show's highly controversial ending has clearly influenced her decision to pivot away from the genre. When asked about the possibility of returning to a similar role, her response was definitive regarding her relationship with the show's imagery.

It is "highly unlikely" viewers would see her "get on a dragon, or even in the same frame as a dragon, ever again."

While the franchise continues to expand with spin-offs like House of the Dragon, Clarke appears content to let that world exist without her. She has previously been open about her difficulty processing how the series concluded, noting in a 2021 interview that she understood why the fanbase felt frustrated with the final episodes.

The transition out of such an intense role took a significant toll on the actress. Following her final promotional appearance at the Emmys in late 2019, Clarke found herself facing a sudden void in her professional life. She described the period immediately following the show's wrap as a critical turning point for her mental health.

Clarke revealed that the sudden stop in her work schedule led to a significant personal crisis. She noted that the timing of the global health crisis that followed shortly after provided an unexpected backdrop to this personal transition.

• She experienced a "full mental breakdown" after finishing promotional duties.
• The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic coincided with her first real break from work.
• It marked the first time in her professional life that she truly stopped working.

Seven years after the show's finale aired, Clarke is re-entering the lead role space with a distinct change in perspective. She has taken the helm of Ponies, a new Cold War spy drama streaming on Peacock. This move represents a deliberate shift in how she approaches her career.

Clarke admitted that looking at a lead role in a TV show brought back memories of the immense commitment required by Game of Thrones. However, the hiatus has given her a newfound clarity about what she wants from her work. She emphasized that for much of her early career, she felt she was simply moving from one project to the next without much say in the matter.

"So much of my career didn't reflect my taste, I just sort of shot out of a cannon."

Now, she is prioritizing roles that allow her to exercise more control and align with her personal artistic preferences.

While Clarke moves forward, the world of Westeros remains active. George R.R. Martin has confirmed that there are multiple ideas bubbling within HBO for further expansion, including potential sequels to the original series. Despite this, it appears unlikely that Daenerys Targaryen will feature in any of these future narratives.

The legacy of the original series continues to spark debate among its cast and audience. While Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark) suggested she was satisfied with her character's fate, Kit Harington (Jon Snow) expressed that he was "genuinely angered" by fan petitions calling for the final season to be remade. For Clarke, however, the focus is firmly set on what lies ahead, leaving the dragon-filled skies of her past behind.