Emilia Clarke, the celebrated actress famous for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in the global phenomenon Game of Thrones, has shared a surprising and painful behind-the-scenes detail from her latest project. The star disclosed that she sustained a broken rib while filming an intense and intimate sequence for her new television series.
An Injury on Set
Clarke, who is 39 years old, is starring in the upcoming Peacock series titled Ponies. In the show, she portrays an undercover agent named Bea. The injury occurred during the filming of a particularly vigorous scene involving multiple actors. "I broke a rib that day… three men, in a number of hours," Clarke revealed, describing the demanding nature of the shoot which required numerous takes to perfect.
She humorously recounted the director's instructions during the scene, saying the process was essentially: "Just keep bringing it. I’m going to sit on this thing, you’re going to bring them in, we’re going to pretend to have s3x." The physical repetition ultimately led to the painful fracture.
An Awkward Doctor's Visit
The aftermath of the injury led to a notably awkward moment for the actress when she had to explain the cause to her physician. Clarke joked about the encounter, exclaiming, "S3x! Times three!" as her succinct explanation for how the rib was broken. This marks a significant return for Clarke to the kind of bold and provocative roles that initially catapulted her to international fame on Game of Thrones, where she shared memorable scenes with co-star Jason Momoa.
Interestingly, Clarke and Momoa reunited just this week, fifteen years after the fantasy drama first premiered, highlighting the enduring impact of the series on their careers and lives.
Clarke's New Role and Career Moves
In Ponies, Clarke's character is the wife of a CIA agent during the tense period of the Cold War. After her husband dies under mysterious circumstances, her character, Bea, travels to Russia to continue his espionage work. Her mission involves seducing a high-ranking KGB operative and unexpectedly developing genuine feelings for another asset, adding layers of complexity to the spy thriller narrative.
Since her time in Westeros, Clarke has built a formidable film career with roles in major franchises like Terminator Genisys and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Despite her deep association with fantasy, the British actress has been clear about one thing: she is done with dragons. She has stated, "You’re highly unlikely to see me get on a dragon, or even in the same frame as a dragon, ever again."
Beyond acting, Clarke's off-screen life is equally impactful. She is a brain injury survivor, having endured a life-threatening brain haemorrhage back in 2011. In response to her own experience, she founded the charity SameYou, which is dedicated to supporting recovery for brain injury survivors. Her philanthropic work was recognized last year when she was honoured with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).
