Game of Thrones boasted an assemblage of master-class acting with its cast consisting mostly of highly respected actors in the industry, and Emilia Clarke knew she was going to learn a lot from these veterans.
The HBO series introduced many characters that left a lasting impact on the audience, but no one was more astonishing than the Dowager Lady of Highgarden, Olenna Tyrell. Played by the late Diana Rigg, the matriarch of House Tyrell exuded confidence within and beyond the screen.
Diana Rigg Left Emilia Clarke Stunned On The Set Of Game Of Thrones
Diana Rigg had a very illustrious career on stage and screen, gaining worldwide fame in the 1960s and eventually revitalizing her stardom when she starred as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones. When someone so distinguished as Rigg joined the set, everyone just had to keep their mouths shut and watch her perform.
Emilia Clarke only had a brief scene with Rigg but considered it a very seminal moment in her career. The actress told Entertainment Weekly that she was in awe of her costar that she had to try hard to remain in character. She kept reminding herself, “Okay, not my line yet, I’m not just watching you—really! I’m acting with you.”
They shared a very powerful scene in the show. Olenna gave Daenerys Targaryen a piece of advice she would remember for the rest of her journey: “The lords of Westeros are sheep. Are you a sheep? No. You’re a dragon. Be a dragon.”
In the same oral history, the showrunners expanded Olenna’s role in the series to fully utilize Rigg’s strength as a veteran actress. Her entire arc was followed by fans, and she became one of the most savage characters to ever grace the show after dropping one last bomb confession before drinking the fatal poison that led to her death.
Even in the last few moments before her character’s demise, Rigg brought so much power and confidence that captured everyone’s breath. Clarke also admired Peter Dinklage, who played Tyrion Lannister, and that he and Rigg were her biggest idols on the set of Game of Thrones.
Emilia Clarke And Peter Dinklage’s Remarkable Friendship
Clarke and Dinklage had become TV’s power couple during their stint as Daenerys and Tyrion, and it’s no secret that they love working with each other. Their characters met in Season 5 and became inseparable until The Imp betrayed the Mother of Dragons.
The actress has been very vocal about her admiration for Dinklage, and she even goes out of her way to support him by attending his red-carpet premieres. Not only did Clark find an acting mentor in him but a life-long friendship as well.
It was challenging to play a character like Daenerys, but having someone to inspire her the way Dinklage and Rigg did, she was able to pull it off.
Game of Thrones is currently streaming on HBO.
