In the unforgiving early days of Game of Thrones, the world of Westeros was as brutal behind the camera as it was on screen. Long before the series became a global phenomenon, a young cast was navigating intense material under enormous pressure. Among them was Emilia Clarke, just 23 years old and fresh out of drama school, suddenly cast as Daenerys Targaryen in a role that demanded emotional vulnerability far beyond her experience.
Standing beside her was Jason Momoa, already a physically imposing presence as Khal Drogo—but on set, his most powerful role was not written in the script.
During the filming of Season 1, Clarke was required to perform emotionally sensitive scenes that frequently left her shaken. Years later, she admitted that she often felt unable to speak up, believing she was “not worthy of asking for anything” as a newcomer on a massive HBO production. The pressure to endure quietly was part of the industry’s unspoken rules at the time.
Momoa refused to accept that.
According to accounts Clarke later shared, one moment became legendary among the crew. As she stood trembling between takes, visibly distressed and cold, Momoa erupted.
“I’ll smash the camera if you force Emilia Clarke to cry in this scene again! Bring her a shirt immediately!”
The outburst stunned everyone. Production halted. The director stopped. In an environment where delays cost money and actors were expected to comply without complaint, Momoa placed himself squarely between the camera and his co-star.
It was not performative anger—it was instinctive protection.
Rather than treating Clarke as a junior colleague, Momoa treated her like family. He repeatedly checked on her comfort, demanded coverings between takes, and explained what behavior on set was acceptable and what was not. His message was clear: professionalism never comes at the cost of dignity.
To ease the tension of emotionally draining days, Momoa also relied on humor. In one now-famous incident, he arrived for a difficult scene wearing an absurd bright pink “modesty sock,” instantly shattering the anxiety in the room and sending Clarke into laughter. What could have been humiliating became human again.
That sense of safety mattered.
As Clarke later reflected, having someone with power and confidence stand up for her changed everything. It taught her that vulnerability did not mean silence—and that respect was not something she had to earn.
The impact extended far beyond their scenes together. As Game of Thrones progressed, Clarke gained the confidence to refuse unnecessary exposure and advocate for herself. After her candid interviews in 2019 shed light on the pressures young actors face, HBO began implementing intimacy coordinators across productions, including House of the Dragon.
More than a decade later, the bond between the two actors remains strong. Clarke still affectionately refers to Momoa as her “Dragon Daddy,” a reminder that what began as on-set protection became lifelong friendship.
In an industry often criticized for valuing spectacle over humanity, Jason Momoa’s decision to throw aside the script—and risk confrontation with the entire crew—stands as a rare example of true allyship.
He didn’t just play a warrior on screen.
When it mattered most, he became one in real life