Emilia Clarke, known for her iconic role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, recently shared a surprising pick for the most awkward scene she had to film. Despite the series’ reputation for intense and often explicit moments, Clarke revealed that a “mildly lesbian” scene from the early seasons topped her personal list of uncomfortable moments.
The Scene That Left Emilia Clarke Feeling Awkward
During the first seasons of Game of Thrones, intimacy coordinators weren’t yet a standard part of production, leaving actors to navigate sensitive scenes with little guidance. Clarke, just 23 at the time and fresh out of drama school, admitted to being initially overwhelmed by the show’s nudity and bold themes.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Clarke named the intimate scene between Daenerys and her handmaiden Doreah (played by Roxanne McKee) as her most awkward moment on set. The scene, which involved Doreah teaching Daenerys about seduction, required a vulnerability that Clarke found challenging to portray authentically.
“Funnily enough, the most awkward scene for me to film was the mildly lesbian scene with Roxanne,” Clarke explained. She attributed this discomfort not to the explicit nature of the scene but to her understanding of Daenerys’ emotional state. “I think it was because Dany found it tricky. With other intense scenes, she would mentally escape, and I mirrored that. But this felt more nuanced and personal.”
While the scene was relatively tame compared to others in the series, it highlighted Daenerys’ early journey of self-discovery, making it emotionally complex for Clarke to perform.
Despite these challenges, Clarke went on to handle increasingly demanding scenes throughout the show, including another famously awkward moment: filming a love scene with Jon Snow (Kit Harington) while her brother worked on the camera crew.
Clarke’s candid reflections shed light on the complexities of acting in a series as boundary-pushing as Game of Thrones, showcasing her ability to balance vulnerability and strength in one of television’s most unforgettable roles.
