After nearly seven years away from leading a television series, Emilia Clarke is officially back on the small screen—and she says the decision felt almost destined. The 39-year-old actress stars in Peacock’s new spy thriller PONIES, marking her first major TV role since Game of Thrones concluded in 2019.
Clarke appears alongside Haley Lu Richardson in the Cold War–era drama, which follows two widows, Bea and Twila, who find themselves thrust into the dangerous world of espionage after their husbands are mysteriously killed. Set in Soviet Union–era Moscow, the series sees the unlikely duo persuading the CIA to let them operate as field agents—a premise Clarke says immediately grabbed her attention.
Speaking with People at the show’s New York City premiere on January 14, Clarke described the role as something she couldn’t ignore. “This was meant to be,” she said, admitting she initially hesitated before committing to another long-term television project. “It was definitely like, ‘Okay, Emilia, think about this. Are we ready to dive back into this?’ But the script was undeniable.”
A major factor in her decision was the creative team behind the series, including creators David Iserson and Susanna Fogel, as well as executive producer Jessica Rhoades. Clarke emphasized that their vision—and her instant connection with them—made the project feel right from the start.
Equally important was her partnership with Richardson. Clarke describes their on-screen relationship as sisterly, but says their off-screen bond formed just as quickly. The two actresses first met over Zoom and clicked immediately. “It’s just been easy-peasy from day one,” Clarke shared. Richardson echoed that sentiment, noting how rare it is for genuine friendships to survive once filming ends. “Even when you love someone you’re working with, it’s very rare that you’re friends after the bubble pops,” she said.
Clarke’s return to television inevitably invites reflection on her decade-long run as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. In recent years, she’s been candid about how overwhelming the cultural phenomenon was. “The more distance I have from Game of Thrones, the more I can quantify it,” she said in a 2024 interview. Looking back, Clarke calls the experience “lightning in a bottle” and says she now fully understands how rare it was.
That perspective helped shape her approach to PONIES. Rather than chasing another cultural juggernaut, Clarke was drawn to the intimacy, originality, and emotional core of the story. With its blend of suspense, friendship, and reinvention, PONIES represents not just a return to TV—but a confident new chapter.
PONIES is now streaming on Peacock.