Emilia Clarke Says She Thought Death 'Was Coming to Get Me' amid Brain Hemorrhage Struggle

Cara Lynn ShultzFri, June 5, 2026 at 1:19 AM UTC

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Emilia Clarke speaks at Variety's 2026 Power of Women event in LondonCredit: Doug Peters/Variety via Getty -

Emilia Clarke suffered two brain hemorrhages in her early 20s while filming Game of Thrones and debuting on Broadway

Clarke co-founded the charity SameYou to support mental health recovery for people with brain injuries

Clarke says brain injuries can leave lasting emotional and physical effects, but recovery and self-trust are possible

Emilia Clarke is sharing her harrowing experience with two brain hemorrhages which required surgery — and why she advocates for mental health support for those who've struggled with brain bleeds.

The Game of Thrones actress said that experiencing a brain injury can leave a person "convinced you'll never be who you were again" while speaking at Variety's Power of Women London event on Wednesday, June 3.

"For a number of years, I felt that I had cheated death, and it was coming to get me," Clarke, 39, said. "I truly felt like I had done something wrong, and I shouldn't be here. I also thought it ruined my ability to act — which some people might agree with!"

Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen on 'Game of Thrones' season 1Credit: HBO

Clarke said that her journey with brain hemorrhages began right as her career started to take off with her star-making turn as Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones.

"I was 22 when I suffered my first brain hemorrhage, 24 when I had my second. I was also 22 when I filmed the first season of Game of Thrones, and 24 when I made my Broadway debut," she said, referring to her appearance in the stage adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

In 2019, Clarke and her mother, Jenny Clarke, founded the charity SameYou, which works to develop mental health support for those who've had brain bleeds. "1 in 3 people will experience a brain injury at some point in their lifetime, whether a stroke, a bleed on the brain or a traumatic accident," the foundation's website notes. "Despite the scale of the problem, health and social care services are inadequate to meet the demand."

Speaking about her own experience, she shared that she was so busy working that she wasn't able to process the trauma she'd endured.

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"I never had the chance to reflect on what my two brain traumas had done to me because I could walk, talk, be myself, remember my lines and was back on camera within weeks of both brain injuries," the Ponies actress continued.

She said that she continued to dismiss her extreme symptoms, which included hormonal issues, anxiety, and even experiencing broken bones, as "stress."

"Surely that's normal working in our image-obsessed industry? Breaking a rib after filming a sex scene? Well, maybe that was his fault," she said. "But sometimes even blacking out after long night shoots? The pain all over my body? I didn't even think I should find out why."

Emilia Clarke with her mother Jennifer Clarke after being appointed a Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)Credit: ANDREW MATTHEWS/POOL/AFP via Getty

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She also spoke to the "extraordinarily complex" nature of brain injuries, and how they can impact a person's overall physical and mental health.

"Because when you think about who you are—your personality, your intellect, your humor, your memories, your excellent taste—where do they live? Your mind. And when that fails you, it can shake your trust in yourself. It can leave you frightened and convinced you'll never be who you were again," Clarke said. "But we know that the recovery to yourself is possible."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”