Emilia Clarke

Emilia Isobel Euphemia Rose Clarke was born in London on October 23, 1986, and grew up in Oxfordshire, England. Her father worked as a theatre sound engineer, and her mother was a businesswoman. Her interest in acting began at age three after seeing a performance of “Show Boat.” She attended St. Edward’s School of Oxford from 2000 to 2005, participating in school plays. She later studied acting at Drama Centre London, where she was involved in ten productions and made her television debut with a guest role in the BBC soap opera ‘Doctors’ in 2009. After graduating from Drama Centre London, Clarke secured her first film role in the television movie ‘Triassic Attack’ in 2010.

Clarke’s breakthrough came in 2011 when she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series ‘Game of Thrones,’ a role she held across all eight seasons until 2019. This role garnered her significant critical acclaim and multiple award nominations, including four Primetime Emmy Awards. During this period, she expanded her career into film, playing Sarah Connor in ‘Terminator Genisys’ (2015) and Louisa Clark in the romantic drama ‘Me Before You’ (2016). In 2018, she starred as Qi’ra in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story.’ Beyond her acting work, Clarke has engaged in extensive philanthropic activities. In 2018, she was appointed ambassador to the Royal College of Nursing, advocating for nurses’ working conditions. In 2019, she founded her charity, SameYou, dedicated to improving neurorehabilitation access for young individuals recovering from brain injuries or strokes, a cause deeply personal to her after experiencing two life-threatening brain aneurysms in 2011 and 2013.

Her career continued with roles such as Kate in the romantic comedy ‘Last Christmas’ (2019) and Susan Smith in ‘Above Suspicion’ (2019). On stage, she played Holly Golightly in a Broadway production of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” in 2013 and Nina in a West End production of “The Seagull” in 2020 and 2022. More recently, she has taken on roles such as Malicia (voice) in ‘The Amazing Maurice’ (2022) and G’iah in the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries ‘Secret Invasion’ (2023). She also executive produced and starred in ‘The Pod Generation’ (2023). Recently, in 2024, Clarke and her mother were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for their contributions to SameYou, highlighting her commitment to public service alongside her acting career.