Game of Thrones season 7 is just over the horizon, and its stars are out in force promoting it. Case in point: Emilia Clarke recently sat down with Rolling Stone to dish on everything from Daenerys’ journey over the last six seasons to what’s coming in season 7 to what she expects to be doing after season 8 is over and she has her days to herself for the first time in years. “There’s going to be a shake-up of my identity, I think,” she said. “And I feel like I’m only going to understand what the last seven years has been when we stop.
"It makes me emotional to think about. It’s my beginning, middle and end – the single thing that has changed me most as an adult."
But before we face the end, we’ve got two more seasons to get through, and by the sound of it, Clarke will be in both of them. “I mean, I have no doubt there’ll be prequels and sequels and who knows what else,” she said. “But I am doing one more season. And then that’ll be it.” Not that there were many people out there who suspected Daenerys would die in season 7, but it’s nice to have confirmation.
As for season 7 itself, Clarke doesn’t think fans will be disappointed.
"It’s a really interesting season in terms of some loose ends that have been tied, some really satisfying plot points, some things where you’re like, ‘Oh, my God. I forgot about that!’ Rumors are going to be confirmed or denied."
Well, that’s tantalizingly cryptic.
Clarke also talks about her personal development over the past several years. Filming season 7 was particularly rough for her, as her father passed away from cancer just three weeks before shooting began. Usually an animated presence on set, Clarke admitted there were times during filming where she was reminded of her father’s death, and it could “take her breath away.”
"You underestimate the enormity of it. I didn’t know feeling this way was possible. I was like, ‘I’m not gonna let you see me cry. That ain’t happening.’"
When that happened, she’d take a moment and try to channel her emotion into her performance. To hear her tell it, some of Daenerys’ confidence in her own power rubbed off on Clarke over the years, and that’s changed the way she approaches her work. “You don’t get to be a mother of dragons without a change or two,” she said. “Being able to encompass and understand the kind of woman who could conquer armies and topple societies allows me, the actor, to stand firmly in those shoes.
Next: Speculation: What does Bran’s presence in Winterfell mean for season 7 and 8?
Other things of interest:
- Here’s Peter Dinklage’s take on Clarke’s demeanor on set: “When one spends your days discussing the politics of King’s Landing, it’s very important not to forget to do your penguin dance between takes.”
- Clarke on what she’s thinking when acting opposite a dragon: “I’m like, ‘Is he clenching? Is he farting? What do you want me to do?'”
- Working in TV and movies has made Clarke very aware of how actresses can be treated differently than their male counterparts, and is very glad she’s become known for playing a leader like Daenerys. “Women have been great rulers. And then for that to be a character that I’m known to play? That’s so fucking lucky. Anyone who seems to think that it’s not needed need only look at the political environment we’re all living in to be like, ‘Oh, no, it’s needed. It is needed.'”
Outside Game of Thrones, you’ll soon be able to see Clarke in the upcoming Han Solo spinoff film. She plays an undisclosed role that she deems “awesome.”