For many around the world, the first time they ever sawEmilia Clarkewas in the HBO adaptation of George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Fire:Game of Thrones. In the series, Clarke portrayed Daenerys Targaryen, an exiled princess from the Targaryen dynasty. Daenerys is one of the most popular characters in both the television series and the novels, becoming a feminist icon because of her strength and prowess until the series began to twist her character arc, ultimately making her one of the final villains of the television series. Although the final season ofGame of Throneswas quiteunpopular andwidely critiqued, it solidified Clarke’s career as a rising actress.
However, Clarke didn’t make her start withGame of Thrones. She found a passion for theatre at age three after seeing the musicalShow Boatand would attend the Drama Centre in London to study acting. She made her debut on the small screen in the British soap operaGood Doctorsin 2009 when she was twenty-three years old. One year later, in 2010, she starred in the American filmTriassic Attack; despite poor reviews, her performance in this film put her on the radar as an upcoming British talent to watch out for. Soon after, she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in what would only be her third professional role. Since then, Clarke has gone on to perform in a variety of roles.
Here are some notable films and shows that she’s appeared in.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
After the success ofRogue Onein 2016,Solo: A Star Wars Storywas released in 2018. The second anthology film in the franchise,Solofollows theadventures of Han Soloand Chewbacca roughly ten years before the events of the 1977Star Wars. One of the most expensive films ever made, it failed toperform wellat the box office. Clarke plays the character Qi’ra, who makes her debut in the Stars Wars universe in this film. Many consider her the most fascinating character in the story, as she is Han Solo’s best friend from childhood and his first love. Viewers, too, fell in love with her. Due to its failure in the box office, there most likely won’t be a sequel to this film, but perhaps the Stars Wars universe will see Clarke returning as Qi’ra in the future.
Me Before You
Me Before Youstars Emilia Clarke as Louisa Clark. Louisa is a woman hired to take care of a former banker and sportsman who has been left tetraplegic after a motorcycle accident. Seemingly lost in life, she takes the job after her mother encourages her to do so. There’s an examination of class division here, as she is a working-class girl from the English countryside while the man she’s taking care of is wealthy, but that doesn’t stop the romance between them. Clarke is paired with former teen heartthrobSam ClaflinofThe Hunger Gamesfor this role, and both actors stole hearts from fans all over the worldin this film. Emotional, romantic, and dramatic,Me Before Youis a solid choice to tug at one’s heartstrings, although questionable in its representation of disabled individuals.
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Last Christmas
If in need of a newromantic comedy with a Christmas theme, Emilia Clarke has one of those too. InLast Christmas, Emilia Clarke stars as Kate Andrich. She’s a young woman who works at a Christmas store as an elf and is now homeless; she also seems lost in her dead-end job. One day she meets someone special outside her store: Tom Webster, who is portrayed byHenry Golding. Reminiscent of a fairytale set in the snowy streets of London, this is a sugary sweet film: a lighthearted comedy that has a narrative that digs deeper rather than remaining on a superficial level. The leading man seems too perfect at first, but the mythos around him and his story is slowly deconstructed, creating a story with many layers to it.
Terminator Genisys
Terminator Genisysmight not be theTerminatormovie everyone remembers, but Emilia Clarke joined the star-studded cast as Sarah Connor. Sarah Connor is a beloved character in theTerminatorfranchise. Her character arc changes from a classical damsel in distress to a hardened warrior. This film was highly anticipated as it marked the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, but even his presence couldn’t save this movie. It was a global flop in the box office, and rumor has it Clarke wasrelievedthat the film didn’t do as well as expected. Behind the scenes, it seemed that the cast and crew didn’t have their hearts in this movie, although an attempt was made.
Secret Invasion
Secret Invasiontechnically hasn’t been released yet, but Emilia Clarke was confirmed to be joining the cast and MCU Universe in the upcoming television series. Exclusive to Disney’s streaming platform, this series will follow Nick Fury and Talos and consists of six episodes that will be up to an hour-long each. The upcoming cast is known, but it’s unsure who will be playing what roles. However, the basic premise is that the Skrulls have discreetly invaded life on Earth, and the show will explore the concept of paranoia. The tentative release date is sometime in 2022, but more details about the plot will be coming soon.
