After Conquering TV as Daenerys, Emilia Clarke Proved Her Theatrical Roots by Making Her Broadway Debut in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Showing The World She Was More Than Just The Mother of Dragons! Following her global ascent to fame as Daenerys Targaryen, the commanding “Mother of Dragons,” in the HBO phenomenon Game of Thrones, actress Emilia Clarke made a career-defining move in 2013 by returning to her theatrical roots. Despite her massive success on the small screen, Clarke chose to challenge her public image and prove her versatility by making her Broadway debut in the play Breakfast at Tiffany’s, demonstrating a commitment to serious acting beyond the realm of fantasy.
The Unstoppable Success of the “Mother of Dragons”
Emilia Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen—a role she began playing in 2011—transformed her into one of the most recognizable faces in the world. Her character’s journey from a terrified exile to a powerful queen became the central narrative arc of Game of Thrones, which was rapidly growing into a cultural behemoth. The critical acclaim and immense popularity earned Clarke multiple Emmy nominations, but it also threatened to pigeonhole her into the fantasy genre. Seeking to demonstrate the breadth of her training and passion, Clarke looked toward the stage, her first love.
The Broadway Challenge: Stepping into Holly Golightly’s Shoes
In 2013, at the height of Game of Thrones’ popularity, Clarke took on one of the most iconic roles in modern literature: Holly Golightly, in the new Broadway adaptation of Truman Capote’s novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The Role: Holly Golightly is a complex, effervescent, and deeply elusive New York socialite—a role famously played by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film. Clarke’s decision to embody this character was a bold move, directly contrasting the fire-and-ice intensity of Daenerys with Golightly’s fragile, yet fiercely independent, persona. The production opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre. While the opportunity was a significant milestone for Clarke, the play itself did not achieve the critical success hoped for and closed after just 38 performances.
Proving Her Theatrical Core
Despite the short run and mixed reviews for the production overall, Clarke’s commitment was undeniable. Her decision to tackle a grueling eight-show-a-week schedule and a historically difficult role—often appearing in minimal costuming—was viewed as a serious demonstration of her acting dedication, separating her ambition from the confines of her successful TV role. This Broadway foray proved that Emilia Clarke was committed to a varied and challenging career path. It solidified her identity as an actress with a genuine love for the craft, willing to risk critical failure on the stage to hone her abilities, rather than resting solely on the global fame of the “Mother of Dragons.” This period of post-Game of Thrones experimentation was critical, laying the groundwork for later major film roles such as Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys and a starring role in the romantic drama Me Before You.