“This Woman Has Taken Up The Whole Of My Heart”: Emilia Clarke Says Goodbye To Daenerys
"Game of Thrones has shaped me as a woman, as an actor and as a human being."
Whatever happens in the series finale of Game of Thrones, airing today, chances are it won’t be very pretty.
After all, this is a show known for spilling blood like a clumsy decorator spills house paint, and even the happiest moments in Game of Thrones history have always been tempered by a degree of melancholy. Who can forget, after all, the lull before the Battle Of Winterfell, or the serene moment Arya and a plain white horse locked eyes like they were ready to give the ‘Old Town Road’ music video a run for its money? In the world of George R. R. Martin‘s fantasy epic, things only ever get good just before they’re about to get very, very terrible.
In any case, whatever horror is about to descend upon us, at least we have some time for a few bittersweet reflections on the ten-year journey that got us to this point of deconstruction and dragon’s breath. And hey, wouldn’t you know it, but the Game of Thrones stars are getting in on the wistful feeling too, with Emilia Clarke, AKA Daenerys Targaryen, taking to her Instagram to share a message of solidarity with her fans, and to reflect on the show that has changed her life.
“Finding the words to write this post has left me overwhelmed with how much I want to say but how small words feel in comparison to what this show and Dany have meant to me,” Clarke has written. “The mother of dragons chapter has taken up the whole of my adult life. This woman has taken up the whole of my heart.
“I’ve sweated in the blaze of dragon fire, shed many tears at those who left our family early, and wrung my brain dry trying to do Khaleesi and the masterful words, actions (and names) I was given, justice. Game of Thrones has shaped me as a woman, as an actor and as a human being. I just wish my darling dad was here now to see how far we’ve flown.”
“But to you, dear kind magical fans, I owe you so much thanks, for your steady gaze at what we’ve made and what I’ve done with a character that was already in the hearts of many before I slipped on the platinum wig of dreams. Without you there is no us. And now our watch has ended.”
So there you have it: some beautiful words that will only go some way towards soothing the chaos of today.