Fame is a double-edged sword, and those who achieve it often pay a steep price for their success. Emilia Clarke, of the Game of Thrones fame, is no exception to this truth. While each episode of the series added quite a chunk to her bank account, it also stripped her of the simple joys of being a human being.
For the actress, the everyday joy of blending into the crowd or having casual conversations has become a rare luxury. The cost of fame wasn’t just losing privacy for her, it also took away the ordinary moments most people take for granted.
The Price Emilia Clarke Paid for Fame!
In a candid chat with The Guardian, Emilia Clarke, famously known as the Mother of Dragons, opened up about her complex relationship with fame. Though she began acting at the tender age of three, it wasn’t until Game of Thrones that she truly became a household name. While she had taken on various roles before landing the HBO series, it was Game of Thrones that catapulted her into the limelight.
Since then, Clarke, like many celebrities, has had to give up the luxury of normalcy. As she puts it,
I’ve really struggled with it, because I like talking to people.
The only break she got was during the pandemic when she took walks with her dachshund, Ted. Though it was only for a short time, she deeply treasured those peaceful strolls through the quiet streets. She said,
I just didn’t see anyone because I lived on my own. Fame’s the sh-ttest thing in the world and I don’t wish it on my worst enemy. It’s horrible. It forces you to look down all the time. So it was very liberating doing these dog walks on my own being like, ‘Hello!’ let’s call it London, for the sake of my stalkers
I made a choice many years ago, and I’ve stuck to my guns. I don’t have a security guard, I don’t not go places because I think I’m going to be recognised, I go about my daily life as if it weren’t the case.
Relocating from Los Angeles to London brought a big change for her. As before the move, she struggled with intrusive fan behavior, including being stalked, disturbed on a flight for a selfie, and even being approached during a panic attack. Thus, to maintain her well-being, she implemented a no-selfies policy and now aims to live as ordinary a life as possible.
How Much Emilia Clarke Made from Game of Thrones
As one of the key characters in one of television’s most iconic series, Emilia Clarke’s portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons, and Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, was instrumental throughout its epic run. Therefore, it’s only fitting that her compensation reflected her prominence in the series.
In seasons five and six of Game of Thrones, it was said that Clarke earned $500,000 per episode, amassing a total of $10 million for her work over 20 episodes as per Celebrity Net Worth. Her pay skyrocketed for the final season, reaching $1.2 million per episode according to The Hollywood Reporter, and totaling $7.2 million for the last eight episodes. This impressive figure cemented her status as one of the highest-paid actors in television history.
Additionally, it’s likely that merchandise sales and DVD/Blu-ray revenues further boosted her earnings, which is just insane to even think about.
Game of Thrones is streaming on Max.
