Daenerys Targaryen, ‘The Mother of Dragons’, ‘The Khaleesi’, ‘The Unburnt’. These have all become identities for Emilia Clarke over the course of 8 years as she immortalised the character with her fierceness and talent.
8 years is a long time and before the final episode of the season and Game of Thrones was aired, Emilia took to Instagram to post a heartfelt note to her fans and the person who has been with her through this journey: Daenerys Targaryen.
Finding the words to write this post has left me overwhelmed with how much I want to say but how small words feel in comparison to what this show and Dany have meant to me.
The first season of Game of Thrones aired in 2011 and Emilia was 24, then. 8 years later, she has lived many lives through Daenerys, going from one place to another with dragons on her back and fire in her heart.
This woman has taken up the whole of my heart. I’ve sweated in the blaze of dragon fire, shed many tears at those who left our family early, and wrung my brain dry trying to do Khaleesi and the masterful words, actions (and names) I was given, justice.
She paid tribute to her father, who passed away in 2016, and to the fans who stood strong beside her through this journey.
I just wish my darling dad was here now to see how far we’ve flown. But to you, dear kind magical fans, I owe you so much thanks, for your steady gaze at what we’ve made and what I’ve done with a character that was already in the hearts of many before I slipped on the platinum wig of dreams. Without you there is no us. And now our watch has ended.