10 Things You Never Knew About Game Of Thrones' Emilia Clarke
HINT: She's as bad-ass as Khaleesi IRL.
WeHeartIt Emilia Clarke is most definitely best known for her character Khaleesi on Game of Thrones, but really, you don’t have to be a GoT super-fan to see that she is just as much of a BAMF in real life, too.
She's obviously incredibly charming and adorable — I mean, have you seen that smile?! But what makes Emilia so freaking likable is that she isn't afraid to admit that she's just like all of us.
Whether that means settling her nerves with vodka or not being afraid to stand up for something she truly believes in, Emilia Clarke shows women everywhere that they can be anything they want to be.
But even if you are a crazy Emilia fan already, there still might be some things you don’t know about her (shocking, I know). Which is why we put together a list of the top 10 things you MUST know about her.
Because she's amazing, and we thought everyone should know, obviously.
1. She ALWAYS shuts down sexism.
There may be some debate about whether or not Game of Thrones is sexist, but Emilia is NOT here for it. She doesn’t believe that the show is anti-feminist in any way.
In fact, she thinks it represents women in all stages of life and with different duties in society. And playing one of the most powerful characters in the show, she understands the value of having a versatile representation of women.
2. She’s talented AF.
Not only is Emilia Clarke charming and beautiful, but she is also incredibly talented. Okay, you already knew that since you already watch GoT, but did you also know that she is musically gifted and can speak multiple languages? It’s true!
She can play the flute, the piano, AND the guitar, as well as speak Indian, French, and German. Talk about impressive.
3. She’s an advocate for women everywhere.
Not only does Emilia want her character, Khaleesi, to be shown as a powerful woman and leader, but she also wants her to be a positive influence for women and young girls everywhere.
Depicting someone who doesn’t need a man to complete her, and doesn’t need to act demure or helpless to get sh*t done, is the message she wants to send to women; that there are SO many reasons to love who you are.
4. She stands up for body-confidence.
While it’s true that Emilia previously had a body double to help her with some of the nude scenes in Game of Thrones, she does in fact find baring it all quite empowering.
In response to an online statement that claimed she refused to do any nude scenes, she clapped back flawlessly, "In drama, if a nude scene forwards a story or is shot in a way that adds insight into characters, I’m perfectly fine with it. Sometimes explicit scenes are required and make sense for the characters/story, as they do in Westeros. If it’s gratuitous for gratuitous sake, then I will discuss with a director on how to make it more subtle. In either case, like a good Mother of Dragons, I’m always in control.”
That said, it doesn’t matter whether getting nude makes you comfortable, or if working with a body double is more your style, what matters most is that you do YOU because that is what will give you the biggest confidence boost. YOU GO GIRL.
5. Khaleesi helps her find self-confidence IRL.
Not only does Khaleesi make fans of Game of Thrones feel like they can be strong women just like her, but the Mother of Dragons has also helped Emilia Clarke herself find self-confidence. She tries not to let her character bleed into her personal life, but she does allow the confidence she feels during filming to help her get into a more positive mindset in real life.
6. She’s all for equality in Game of Thrones.
If you want a show that depicts women as equals to their male counterparts, then Game of Thrones is for you. It shows that anything can happen, whether you’re a man or a woman, and that you can be in any situation; no one has time to deal with unfair gender roles!
And if you ask Emilia herself, she’ll tell you she’s all for gender equality, especially when it comes to stripping down on screen. If women do nude scenes, so should men; it’s only fair!
7. She makes the single life look GOOD.
Emilia Clarke might be a die-hard romantic, but she knows where her priorities lie. She knows how busy she is with GoT, and even though she wants to be in a relationship, it doesn’t always work out the way you want it to.
When she was dating, she expertly handled all those who tried to tell her how to run her own life, but now that she’s single, she’s happy just spending time with family and friends, and enjoying life.
8. Sometimes, she needs liquid courage (just like all of us).
There’s nothing like alcohol to help you calm your nerves, right? Maybe you don’t agree with me, but Emilia Clarke sure does.
After being rightly named Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire magazine, she bared it all for the camera. But, like all of us, she had a hard time loosening up. And what’s the best way to get over your fear of doing something? Vodka, duh!
She admitted that she was drunk during her photo shoot, which makes me love her even more.
9. She voices her opinions without shame.
Playing a difficult role is no easy feat, especially with critics coming at you from all angles. But whether she’s dealing with topics like sexism, nudity, or euthanasia (the basis of Me Before You), she isn’t afraid to talk about the hard-hitting stuff.
If anything about Emilia Clarke is role-model material it’s the fact that she’s totally brave and sticks up for herself.
10. She stays humble no matter what.
Maybe it’s not being able to identify her without the blonde hair and why fans often don’t recognize her in public (even when she’s with her co-stars), or maybe it’s having an incredible support system, but you won’t find Emilia Clarke being anything less than humble about her fame.
It can be SO easy to get caught up in all the glamor, but all she wants to do is enjoy the good moments in life while she has them; something we can all appreciate.