Emilia Clarke Says She Faced a “Lack of Care” on Other Projects During Her ‘Game of Thrones’ Era

Emilia Clarke has opened up about how she felt treated on some of her past film projects while she was also working on Game of Thrones. The comments come from a profile interview published by Variety, where she reflects on her career during and after her time as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones.

Clarke explains that while her experience on Game of Thrones itself was not something she describes as abusive, she did feel a lack of support on other productions she worked on around the same time.

She avoids naming specific projects, even when asked if she was referring to major studio films like Terminator Genisys or Solo: A Star Wars Story. Both of those films had widely reported production issues and mixed reception, but Clarke did not confirm any direct connection.

In the interview, Clarke is clear that her criticism is not about individuals acting with bad intent or abuse of power. Instead, she points to a more general issue in the industry. She said, “I don’t want to specifically say. There’s just been a number of occasions where I’ve been like, ‘This ain’t right.’ And again, it’s not through someone abusing power; it’s through lack of thinking and care.”

She expands on that idea by saying the problem was often about how things were handled on set rather than any single dramatic incident. In her view, small decisions and lack of attention to how actors are treated can add up to a difficult working environment, especially for younger performers working on large productions.

Clarke also contrasts those experiences with her time on Game of Thrones, where she says she felt more stability overall, even if certain early moments in her role as Daenerys were emotionally and physically challenging. She has previously spoken about how unprepared she sometimes felt as a young actress entering major productions without much control over the environment around her.

Her comments also come as she reflects more broadly on how her definition of success has changed over the years. After Game of Thrones ended, Clarke says she began focusing less on big franchises and more on work that feels creatively healthy and personally fulfilling, rather than simply being part of large-scale studio projects.

Looking back at her time in major franchises, Clarke has also been honest about their reception. In the same interview, she notes that some of the big studio projects she joined did not land well with audiences or critics. However, she frames those experiences as part of working inside established franchises rather than something she takes personally.

The interview is based on conversations published by Variety, which featured Clarke discussing her career, her health struggles, and her changing relationship with fame and success.

For Clarke, the key takeaway is not about blaming specific productions, but about highlighting the importance of care on set. Her comments suggest that better communication, attention, and respect in production environments could have made some of those experiences easier, especially during the early stages of her career when she was still finding her place in the industry.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!