Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke, born Emilia Isobel Euphemia Rose Clarke on October 23, 1986, in London, England, is a British actress who achieved global stardom through her iconic portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s fantasy epic “Game of Thrones.” Raised in Berkshire, she developed an interest in acting at age three after seeing the musical “Show Boat,” which her father was working on as a theatre sound engineer. She studied at the Drama Centre London, graduating in 2009, and landed the career-defining role of Daenerys just a year later.

Her performance on “Game of Thrones” from 2011 to 2019 earned her four Primetime Emmy Award nominations and transformed her into one of the most recognizable actresses in the world. At the height of the show, Clarke was earning approximately $500,000 per episode, which increased to $1.2 million per episode in the final seasons. The role led to major film opportunities, including “Terminator Genisys” (2015), “Me Before You” (2016), “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018), and “Last Christmas” (2019).

In 2019, Clarke revealed that she had survived two life-threatening brain aneurysms during the early years of filming “Game of Thrones,” in 2011 and 2013. This deeply personal revelation led her to found SameYou, a charity dedicated to providing recovery treatment for people who have suffered brain injuries and strokes. Her openness about her health struggles earned widespread admiration and brought significant attention to brain injury recovery resources.

Post-“Game of Thrones,” Clarke has continued to build her career with critically acclaimed stage work, including her West End debut in “The Seagull” and her Broadway debut in a revival of the same play. She has also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series “Secret Invasion” (2023) on Disney+. Her brand endorsement deals, including campaigns for Dolce and Gabbana and Clinique, have further supplemented her acting income, bringing her estimated net worth to $25 million in 2026.