Death Of A Dragon

Behind the scenes of the final episode of GAME OF THRONES with EMILIA CLARKE, KIT HARINGTON, PETER DINKLAGE, and more. Says Clarke: “I stand by Daenerys.”

- James Hibberd

EMILIA CLARKE READ A PARAGRAPH IN THE final script for Game of Thrones.

She read it again and again. Seven times, she says, she read the words that revealed the devastating fate of Dae Nerys Targaryen, a character she portrayed on the HBO global phenomenon for nearly a decade.

“What, what, what, WHAT?!” the actress remembers thinking. “Because it comes out offing nowhere. I’m flabbergasted. Absolutely never saw that coming.”

It was in October 2017. The actress had recently completed filming Solo: A Star Wars Story and had just returned to London following a brief vacation. She electronically received the season 8 scripts the moment she landed at Heathrow and recalls that she “completely flipped out,” turned to her traveling companion, and said, “ ‘Oh my God! I gotta go! I gotta go!’ And they’re like, ‘You gotta get your bags!’ ”

Once at home, the actress prepared herself. “I got myself situated,” she says. “I got my cup of tea. I had to physically prepare the space and then begin reading.”

Clarke swiped through pages: Daenerys arrives at Winterfell and Sansa doesn’t like her. She discovers Jon Snow is the true heir to the Iron Throne and isn’t thrilled. She fights in the battle against the Night King and survives, but loses a longtime friend and protector Ser Jorah Mormont. Then her other close friend and adviser Missandei die too. Varys betrays her. Jon Snow pulls away. Having lost half her army, two dragons, and nearly everybody she cares about, Daenerys goes full Targaryen to win: She attacks King’s Landing and kills…thousands of civilians? Daenerys’ lifelong conquest achieved, she meets with Jon Snow in the Red Keep throne room and…and then…then he…