Emilia Clarke Behind The Scenes: GOT Secrets Spill Out
- 01. Early Set Trauma: The Horse Incident That Almost Ended Her Career
- 02. The Dragon Rig: From Squeaky Pole to Theme Park Terror
- 03. Language Struggles: Dothraki Post-It Notes and Nonsense Pranks
- 04. The Dragon Heart Scene: 28 Fake Hearts, Bleach Taste, and Spit Buckets
- 05. Daenerys' Posture Secret: Nervous Habit Not Character Choice
- 06. Secret Journal: Documenting Season 8 Without Phones or Cameras
Emilia Clarke's behind-the-scenes secrets from Game of Thrones include her near-fall off a horse on her very first day, her terrifying experience eating 28 fake dragon hearts made of solidified jam and bleach-tasting prop food, and the fact that Daenerys' iconic straight posture was a nervous habit from being a "terrified 22-year-old" rather than an intentional character choice. She also endured a violently moving mechanical dragon rig that evolved into a "scary theme park ride," memorized Dothraki lines using Post-It notes around her apartment, and kept a secret on-set journal during Season 8 since phones and cameras were completely banned.
Early Set Trauma: The Horse Incident That Almost Ended Her Career
On her first day filming in Belfast on April 19, 2011, a 22-year-old Emilia Clarke nearly fell off her horse while shooting Daenerys' debut scene, shouting "Please stop filming!" in tears before the take was rescued. This moment of raw vulnerability became a defining memory for Clarke, who later admitted she never envisioned leaving a call center job to star in television's most acclaimed series. The production team rolled multiple takes that day, with Clarke struggling to maintain composure under the pressure of portraying a tireless exiled princess while physically unstable on horseback.
Unlike many actors who rehearse extensively beforehand, Clarke received minimal horseback training before Day 1, leading to a circuitous learning curve that extended across all eight seasons. She later recalled how the incident left her emotionally shaken but cemented her resolve to embody Daenerys' resilience. This early trauma contrasted sharply with the character's eventual evolution into a powerful queen commanding dragons and armies.
The Dragon Rig: From Squeaky Pole to Theme Park Terror
Filming Daenerys' dragon-riding scenes required Clarke to strap into a manual mechanical rig that initially consisted of a hard green shell operated by crew members using poles like railway squeak-tools under the scorching Osuna sun. As production evolved, the rig became a pre-programmed, four-part independently moving apparatus attached via harness, simulating violent skyward journeys that Clarke described as "really, really freaky".
| Dragon Rig Phase | Season Filmed | Mechanism | Clarke's Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Season 3 | Manual pole-operated shell | "Squeaking noise like railway workers" |
| Phase 2 | Season 4-5 | Hybrid pre-programmed motion | "Getting scary theme park ride" |
| Phase 3 | Season 6-8 | Four-part independent movement | "Violent skyward journey" |
Clarke had to learn to preempt the dragon's movements rather than act like a "rag doll," requiring months of physical conditioning to appear in control while being violently tossed around. The visual effects team mapped each journey's trajectory, breath patterns, and wing flaps before handing the joystick to rig operators who executed the motion in sync with Clarke's performance.
Language Struggles: Dothraki Post-It Notes and Nonsense Pranks
Clarke admitted that speaking Dothraki off-set was nearly impossible due to its challenging pronunciation, forcing her to plaster her apartment with Post-It notes containing phonetic phrases during Season 1. She found High Valyrian "much simpler" with its melodic tone, while Dothraki felt like "choking on words".
- Season 1: Struggled significantly with Dothraki lines, relied on Post-It notes
- Season 2-3: Memorization improved but lines forgotten immediately after filming
- Season 4-5: Mastered enough to prank co-stars by speaking Dothraki nonsense while theymaintained serious expressions
- Season 6-8: Fluency achieved but still required relearning at season start due to rapid forgetting
One memorable prank involved Clarke improvising Dothraki gibberish during a serious scene, causing a co-star to suppress laughter while maintaining a stoic warrior expression. This linguistic journey mirrored Daenerys' own growth from an uncertain exile to a confident commander fluent in her people's tongue.
The Dragon Heart Scene: 28 Fake Hearts, Bleach Taste, and Spit Buckets
In Season 2's "fire blood" ritual scene, Clarke consumed approximately 28 prop dragon hearts made of solidified jam that tasted like "bleach mixed with raw pasta". The production provided a spit bucket because she was frequently vomiting during the grueling shoot, yet the gag reflex proved easier to act when the food was genuinely revolting.
This gruesome ritual required multiple takes over several hours, with Clarke enduring the harsh taste without breaking character. The prop team created each heart to look convincingly raw and bloody, yet the chemical aftertaste made every bite a challenge. Clarke later joked that this scene minimized the need for acting since her revulsion was entirely genuine.
Daenerys' Posture Secret: Nervous Habit Not Character Choice
Clarke revealed in October 2024 that Daenerys' iconic straight-back posture was not a deliberate character decision but a result of her being a "terrified 22-year-old" whose mother told her to "sit up straight". She explained, "People often spoke about Khaleesi's very straight back being very good posture. I was a terrified 22-year-old. My mama told me to sit up straight, so I did... And then you're stuck with it".
This accidental trait became one of Daenerys' most recognizable trademarks, symbolizing her regal authority despite originating from adolescent anxiety. The posture persisted throughout all eight seasons, cementing itself as an unintentional yet defining aspect of the character's visual language.
Secret Journal: Documenting Season 8 Without Phones or Cameras
During Season 8 filming in 2018, Clarke kept an old-fashioned handwritten journal because phones and cameras were completely banned on set for security reasons. She documented her final days portraying Daenerys, including emotional reflections on the character's dark turn and the production's intense atmosphere.
Fans might eventually read this journal, which offers personal insights into Clarke's experience during the show's controversial final season. The journal captures her vulnerability as she navigated Daenerys' descent into madness while maintaining professionalism under extreme pressure.
- Clarke fell off her horse on Day 1, crying before filming was paused
- She ate 28 fake dragon hearts tasting like bleach and raw pasta
- Daenerys' straight posture was a nervous habit, not character design
- Clarke used Post-It notes to memorize Dothraki lines in Season 1
- The dragon rig became a violent theme park ride by Season 6
- She kept a secret journal during Season 8 with no phones allowed
- Clarke pranked co-stars with Dothraki nonsense during serious scenes
These untold moments reveal the physical and emotional toll Clarke endured to bring Daenerys Targaryen to life, transforming her from a frightened newcomer into television's most iconic queen. Her journey-from near-falls and bleach-tasting prop food to mastering dragon rigs and secret journals-epitomizes the relentless dedication required to sustain a decade-long role in television history.
Expert answers to Emilia Clarke Behind The Scenes Got Secrets Spill Out queries
Did Emilia Clarke fall off her horse on the first day of filming?
Yes, on April 19, 2011, Clarke nearly fell off her horse during her first scene as Daenerys, shouted "Please stop filming!" and cried before the take was rescued.
How many fake dragon hearts did Emilia Clarke eat?
Clarke consumed approximately 28 prop dragon hearts made of solidified jam that tasted like bleach and raw pasta during Season 2's fire ritual scene.
Was Daenerys' straight posture intentional?
No, Daenerys' iconic straight posture was a nervous habit from Clarke being a "terrified 22-year-old" whose mother told her to sit up straight, not a character choice.
Did Emilia Clarke keep a journal on set?
Yes, during Season 8 filming in 2018, Clarke kept a handwritten journal since phones and cameras were banned, documenting her final days as Daenerys.
What made the dragon rig so difficult to ride?
The mechanical dragon evolved from a manual squeaky-pole rig into a violent, pre-programmed four-part motion device that felt like a "scary theme park ride".