For years, the fervent fanbase of Game of Thrones insisted that the intense real-life closeness between stars Kit Harington (Jon Snow) and Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) must be rooted in a secret or suppressed romantic love. The on-screen progression of their characters from allies to tragically doomed lovers only fueled this pervasive misconception.
However, both actors have consistently dismissed this public fantasy, revealing that their profound, decade-long bond is, in fact, pure familial/sibling love—and filming their intimate scenes was anything but romantic.
The Myth of the Romantic Co-Stars vs. Sibling Awkwardness
The shared experience of being the two central leads of a global phenomenon created an unbreakable connection that fans readily mistook for romantic chemistry.
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The Misconception: People misread Kit and Emilia’s closeness as a romantic love that already exists or is trying to be hidden, rather than a pure family/sibling love.
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The Truth Revealed: The reality of filming their intimate scenes was so awkward that both actors admitted to struggling, proving their bond was platonic. Emilia Clarke admitted that during their first intimate scene, they both simply “started laughing” because it felt so ridiculous to look at their friend and say those lines.
This professional discomfort stemmed from years of genuine, non-romantic friendship. As Clarke stated, “If you’ve known someone for six years, and they’re best friends with your girlfriend, and you’re best friends with them, there is something unnatural and strange about doing a love scene.”
👪 The Sibling Proof: Vomit Jokes and Best Friends
The strongest evidence supporting the “sibling love” theory comes from their own antics and personal connections:
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The Shared Path: Harington often explained that he and Emilia bonded because they were the only two actors who followed the exact same career path—coming out of drama school and launching into a global phenomenon together. This created a unique shared journey that was closer to family than professional rivalry.
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The Gagging: Kit Harington would famously pretend to gag or vomit after filming their kissing scenes to diffuse the tension and acknowledge the sheer awkwardness of the situation (Source 1.6, 3.4). Harington candidly told a magazine that he “used to pretend it was [hard to kiss her]” and that the “weirdness” was amplified because Emilia is also best friends with his wife, former co-star Rose Leslie (who played Ygritte) (Source 3.5, 2.3).
Ultimately, Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke’s revelations prove that the intense closeness between Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen was the result of two actors who survived the pressure cooker of Hollywood side-by-side, forging a resilient, loving friendship that endures the public’s constant romantic fantasies.