Emilia Clarke has shared details regarding her experience with two brain injuries during her time on the HBO series Game of Thrones. The actress, who played Daenerys Targaryen, experienced significant health challenges while working on the popular show.
Emilia Clarke’s Health Scare
In February 2011, around the premiere of the show’s first season, Clarke suffered a brain hemorrhage. Two years later, in 2013, she experienced another brain bleed. In an interview with The Big Issue, Clarke explained the profound impact these injuries had on her.
“When you have a brain injury, because it alters your sense of self on such a dramatic level, all of the insecurities you have going into the workplace quadruple overnight,” Clarke, now 37, remarked. Her primary concern was whether she would be perceived as capable of fulfilling her role. “The first fear we all had was: ‘Oh my God, am I going to get fired? Am I going to get fired because they think I’m not capable of completing the job?’” she said.
Managing Her Condition
According to The Big Issue, Clarke’s brain hemorrhages occurred during off-seasons, which allowed her to keep her condition relatively private. Despite her health issues, she returned to set just weeks after her first hemorrhage, fearful that the stress might trigger another incident. “Well, if I’m going to die, I better die on live TV,” she recalled.
Revealing Her Ordeal
Clarke first disclosed her traumatic experience in a March 2019 essay for The New Yorker. She described her initial diagnosis as a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a critical condition that requires immediate medical attention. She underwent urgent surgery to address an aneurysm, facing grim survival odds.
Following her first surgery, Clarke experienced aphasia, a condition affecting her ability to remember her name. Her second brain injury occurred after filming the third season of Game of Thrones, necessitating another procedure in New York. This time, the operation was more complex and painful, involving opening her skull to alleviate a significant bleed.
Lasting Impact
As a result of her surgeries, Clarke now has pieces of titanium in her skull and a noticeable scar running from her scalp to her ear. Despite these challenges, she continues to work and advocate for brain injury awareness.
Wrapping Up
Emilia Clarke’s story highlights the resilience required to overcome severe health challenges while maintaining a demanding career. For more stories and the latest updates, visit HitPlay.