Game of Thrones alum Emilia Clarke has her fair share of controversial movies and shows under her belt, but she knows the response to projects like Secret Invasion and Solo: A Star Wars Story is “not personal.”
The actress behind Daenerys Targaryen opened up about the highs and lows of her career during an interview with Variety. It’s no secret that her brushes with Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) didn’t exactly result in beloved stories, but she didn’t make it sound like it’s the kind of thing that has ever weighed her down.
“I don’t think no one liked that show, guys,” Clarke said of Secret Invasion while using a goofy voice. “I’m sorry!”
She added: “Star Wars? They didn’t like it. Terminator? That should never have happened.”
Clarke is no stranger to playing roles for projects that go on to receive less-than-favorable reception from fans and critics alike. Game of Thrones Season 8 comes to mind as the obvious example, but her parts as G’iah in the MCU, Qi’ra in Star Wars, or Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys have also seen her faced with harsh criticism from viewers online.
Each of the franchises she mentioned has a long history in entertainment, with some having deeper roots in the pop-culture world than others. At the end of the day, though, she admitted that “these were jobs I said yes to.”
“I entered into already existing franchises,” she added, “so when they don’t work out, it’s not personal.”
On the topic of finding success in the future, Clarke said she needs “to wait for the right thing.” That said, don’t expect her to dwell on any other mishaps down the line.
“My connection to a project ends when they say, ‘Picture wrap,'” she added. “Because it’s not for me to decide what people will think of it.”
Clarke shared a screen with Haley Lu Richardson for Peacock’s Ponies earlier this year and will soon appear in the film Next Life. Elsewhere in the interview, the star talked about her lack of control regarding the fate of her dragon-riding Game of Thrones character.
Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
