London, UK — Known globally for embodying the fierce, dragon-riding queen Daenerys Targaryen in the epic HBO series Game of Thrones, actress Emilia Clarke revealed a much softer, yet equally courageous, side of her talent in the 2019 film Last Christmas. She not only starred as the lead character Kate, but bravely performed her own vocals for the movie, confronting a lifelong fear in the process.
The romantic comedy, directed by Paul Feig, centers on the music of the late pop legend George Michael and features 15 of his iconic tracks. For Clarke, this meant overcoming extreme stage fright to deliver a key performance of George Michael’s famous song.
Conquering the Fear: Singing for George Michael
In the film’s climax, Clarke’s character, Kate, performs a full version of the eponymous Wham! holiday classic, “Last Christmas,” for a charity event at a shelter. This emotional performance was entirely sung by Clarke herself, a fact she confirmed in multiple interviews.
The actress admitted the experience was “incredibly nerve-wracking,” telling Entertainment Tonight, “I don’t do my own stunts but I do do my own singing.” She also told NPR that she was “genuinely at my happiest when I am singing,” but that performing “with George’s perfect song was — every time before I sing I just think I’m getting tonsillitis, or my throat is closing up or something — so it took a lot of courage, but I got there.”
The vocals were intentionally delivered in a raw, soulful style, reflecting the vulnerability and character arc of Kate, a struggling aspiring singer. The performance successfully shed the intimidating image of the “Mother of Dragons” for fans, revealing a surprisingly tender and genuine vocal talent.
Data Behind the Diversification
While her singing ability may have surprised mainstream audiences, the data shows Clarke has a theatrical background that includes music:
Musical Education: Clarke studied at Drama Centre London and gained early stage experience, having developed a love for acting after seeing a production of the musical Show Boat at age three.
Stage Experience: Before Game of Thrones, she appeared in stage productions like Twelfth Night and West Side Story. In 2013, she also starred on Broadway as Holly Golightly in a stage adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Musical Parody: Her musical chops were previously highlighted in a comedic, viral “Game of Thrones: The Musical” skit created by Coldplay for the Red Nose Day charity event in 2015, where she sang a reggae-style song about her character, Daenerys.
The success of Last Christmas (which grossed approximately $123.4 million worldwide on a $25–30 million budget) demonstrated Clarke’s drawing power outside of the fantasy genre. It cemented her status as a versatile performer willing to take on difficult, personal challenges like singing the cherished music of George Michael.