Game of Thrones Star Emilia Clarke Feared She’d ‘Cheated Death’ Living Through Her Brain Aneurysms, and Thought She’d Collapse Live on MTV
Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke has opened up about the severe health challenges she faced during the early seasons of the HBO fantasy epic, revealing the lasting psychological impact of suffering two brain aneurysms in 2011 and 2013.
In a recent appearance on the podcast “How to Fail with Elizabeth Day,” Clarke, who played the iconic Daenerys Targaryen, discussed her experience navigating recovery while continuing to perform on one of television’s most demanding productions. The aneurysms occurred during the first and second seasons of Game of Thrones, when the show was rapidly becoming a cultural phenomenon.
Clarke described living with profound fear in the aftermath of her medical emergencies, particularly anxiety about experiencing another aneurysm at any moment—including during public appearances like a live MTV interview. The trauma of her near-fatal health crises left her feeling as though she had “cheated death,” grappling with both the physical recovery and the emotional toll of surviving life-threatening conditions.
Her resilience and openness about her experience have led Clarke to a meaningful second chapter: she now leads a charity organization dedicated to supporting young people recovering from brain injuries and strokes. By channeling her personal struggle into advocacy, Clarke has transformed her trauma into purpose, using her platform to help others facing similar medical challenges.