Before she became known to millions as Daenerys Targaryen — the fierce yet compassionate “Mother of Dragons” — Emilia Clarke was just another young actor in London, struggling to make ends meet and wondering if her big break would ever come.
In a recent interview, Clarke shared that one simple piece of advice from her mother changed not only her career but the way she saw herself. And, more than a decade later, that same wisdom continues to guide her — so much so that she still sends her mother every script she receives.
“My mum gave me advice I didn’t want — but needed,” Clarke said.
A Mother’s Words That Changed Everything
Years before Game of Thrones came along, Clarke was juggling part-time jobs and back-to-back auditions that rarely led anywhere.
“I was exhausted, broke, and ready to give up,” she admitted. “Then my mom sat me down and said something that completely shifted my perspective.”
Her mother, Jennifer Clarke, who worked for years as a charity executive, offered her daughter a piece of unsolicited but unforgettable advice:
“Emilia, don’t chase being someone else. They already exist. Be you, and be undeniable.”
At first, Clarke didn’t think much of it. “I remember saying, ‘That’s not helpful, Mum! I just need a job!’” she laughed. “But what she really meant was — stop auditioning like you’re trying to please people. Bring yourself into the room.”
That mindset shift came just in time for an audition that would define her life.
“I Walked Into That Audition With Her Words in My Head”
When Clarke first read the script for Game of Thrones, she instantly connected with Daenerys Targaryen — a character both fragile and powerful, uncertain yet unstoppable.
“I wasn’t thinking about dragons or thrones,” she said. “I just thought about my mum’s words: Be undeniable. So I stood taller, spoke from my gut, and didn’t apologize for who I was.”
That audition won her the role — and launched her into global fame.
“When I got the call, my mum was the first person I told,” Clarke recalled. “She cried. Then she said, ‘Told you so.’”
“She’s My Secret Script Reader”
Even now, years after Game of Thrones ended, Clarke still relies on her mother’s guidance.
“I send her about four scripts a month,” she revealed. “I trust her gut more than anyone’s. She doesn’t care about fame or money — she just reads it and says, ‘This feels right,’ or, ‘This doesn’t sound like you.’ And she’s almost always right.”
That honest feedback has helped shape Clarke’s post-Thrones career, guiding her choices in films like Me Before You and Last Christmas, as well as her work in Marvel’s Secret Invasion.
“She’s my built-in truth detector,” Clarke said. “She reminds me why I started — not for the glamour, but for the storytelling.”
The Best Advice Doesn’t Age
Despite her global success, Clarke says her mother has kept her grounded.
“She’s proud, but she still keeps me in check,” Clarke said with a grin. “Whenever I get a big role, she says, ‘That’s lovely, darling — but have you eaten?’”
More than fame or awards, Clarke says her mother’s words have helped her stay authentic in an industry that can easily distort self-worth.
“This business can make you doubt yourself every day,” she said. “But my mum’s advice still echoes: You’re enough as you are. That’s the one thing I’ll never forget.”
“I Owe Her Everything”
Looking back, Clarke credits her entire career to that one conversation — and the courage it gave her to walk into that Game of Thrones audition as her true self.
“If she hadn’t told me that, I don’t think I’d have walked in with confidence,” Clarke said softly. “And maybe there’d be no Daenerys — at least not my version of her.”
She paused, smiling.
“So yes, I still send her scripts,” she said. “Because if my mum says no — it’s a no.”
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