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Clarke wouldnt reveal the real reason behind her exhaustion for another eight years.
After filmingThronesseason one, she had suffered a brain hemorrhage at a gym in London.
I immediately felt as though an elastic band were squeezing my brain, Clarke wrote inThe New Yorker.
Day after day on set, Clarkes performance gave no indication of her fatigue, fear, and pain.
EMILIA CLARKE (Daenerys Targaryen):It was crazy intense.
I spent a lot of time just being like: Am I gonna die?
Is that gonna happen on set?
Because that would be really inconvenient.
And with any kind of brain injury, it leaves you with a fatigue thats indescribable.
I was trying so hard to keep it under wraps.
BRYAN COGMAN (coexecutive producer):Only a very select few people knew about that.
I was completely unaware.
I heard a little bit that she had some problems between seasons, but nothing to that extent.
And I had no clue while we were shooting.
ALAN TAYLOR (director):We were afraid for her.
Shes so brave, because it never affected her commitment to the work.
So they brought in an air-conditioned car for me sorry, planet.
You ask yourself: Is she as safe doing this show as if she was not doing it?
If she was home sitting on her couch?
You would have to tell her no, because she would never say no.
They didnt want to work me too hard.
like dont think Im going to fuck up at any moment.
I had the Willy Wonka golden ticket.
I wasnt about to hand that in.
2020 by James Hibberd and published by Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group.
