In 2010, the casting process for HBO’s massive fantasy undertaking, “Game of Thrones,” was hitting a snag, particularly for the crucial role of Daenerys Targaryen, the exiled princess whose journey from timid bride to fierce conqueror would anchor the entire series. The solution came not through an emotional monologue, but through an impromptu display of physical comedy: a robot dance performed by a then-unknown actress named Emilia Clarke.
This single, audacious move by Clarke catapulted her from working “non-acting jobs,” including catering parties dressed as Snow White, to becoming one of the most recognizable and highest-paid stars in television history.
The Audition Challenge: The Shy Girl and the Strong Queen
Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss found the role of Daenerys notoriously difficult to cast. The character, as written in George R. R. Martin’s books, required a flawless transition between two contrasting extremes, often within the same season:
- The Frightened Girl: A meek, abused teenager forced into a traumatic marriage with the Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo.
- The Resilient Queen: The fiercely determined, commanding leader who survives fire, becoming the Mother of Dragons and the Breaker of Chains.
Hundreds of actresses auditioned, but the creators struggled to find one who could convincingly convey this full, demanding range.
Notable Event: Emilia Clarke was, in fact, the second actress cast in the role. The original, unaired pilot featured actress Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys. Due to extensive flaws in the initial pilot, a re-shoot and major recasting were ordered by HBO, opening the door for Clarke.
The Unforgettable Closer: “The Robot”
Clarke’s final, high-stakes audition took place in a sterile Los Angeles corporate theatre before a daunting panel of producers and executives, including the stone-faced president of HBO. After delivering two compelling scenes that demonstrated her range, Clarke, desperate to leave a lasting impression, spontaneously asked, “Is there anything else that I can do?”
Show-creator David Benioff jokingly suggested, “You can do a dance.”
Clarke’s response was instant and decisive. She launched into a performance of “the funky chicken” and transitioned immediately into a flawless execution of “the robot” dance. Her commitment and sheer confidence shattered the corporate tension, earning huge laughs and immediate approval.
Co-creator D.B. Weiss famously recalled that she got the job “10 seconds after she left the room,” having achieved her goal: she made them remember her.
Impact and Historic Earnings Data
The sheer charisma demonstrated in that moment secured Clarke the role and set her on a path to global stardom. Over the course of the eight-season run of “Game of Thrones,” her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen earned her multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including a nod for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2019.
Key Earnings Data:
- In the later seasons of Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke, along with her co-stars Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, negotiated a massive pay raise.
- By the final seasons (Seasons 7 and 8), these five core cast members, including Clarke, were reportedly earning upwards of $1.2 million per episode (with some reports initially suggesting up to $2 million per episode based on potential syndication/backend deals). This put her among the highest-paid actors in television history for a drama series.
Clarke’s unexpected dance routine proved that success in Hollywood often requires not just talent, but the bold, spontaneous move that makes an artist completely unforgettable.