ENTERTAINMENT

‘Thrones’ Actress Emilia Clarke Says She’s Had 2 Aneurysms

Mar 21, 2019, 4:30 PM | Updated: Jun 8, 2022, 5:13 pm
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Emilia Clarke attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollyw...
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Emilia Clarke attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (AP) — “Game of Thrones” actress Emilia Clarke revealed Thursday that she has had two life-threatening aneurysms, and two brain surgeries, since the show began.

An unknown actress before landing the role, Clarke had just finished filming her first season as Daenerys Targaryen, the “Mother of Dragons,” on the HBO fantasy series when she had the first aneurysm in 2011 at age 24 while working out at a London gym.

“Just when all my childhood dreams seemed to have come true, I nearly lost my mind and then my life,” Clarke writes in a first-person story in The New Yorker . “I’ve never told this story publicly, but now it’s time.”

Clarke said she had been healthy all her life, but was suffering from serious stress when the artery burst in her brain. Much of it came from constant press questions about the nudity of her character, a conquering queen, in the show’s first episode.

“I always got the same question: some variation of ‘You play such a strong woman, and yet you take off your clothes. Why?'” Clarke writes. “In my head, I’d respond, ‘How many men do I need to kill to prove myself?'”

She said she suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which can very easily be fatal. She was unable to speak her full name even weeks later.

The second surgery, which was more invasive and involved opening her skull, came after Clarke finished shooting the third season.

“I looked as though I had been through a war more gruesome than any that Daenerys experienced,” Clarke writes. “I emerged from the operation with a drain coming out of my head. Bits of my skull had been replaced by titanium. These days, you can’t see the scar that curves from my scalp to my ear, but I didn’t know at first that it wouldn’t be visible.”

And, she adds, there was “the constant worry about cognitive or sensory losses.”

She recovered fully, however, and was able to keep the problems from the media with one exception.

“Six weeks after the surgery, the National Enquirer ran a short story,” Clarke writes. “A reporter asked me about it and I denied it.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Entertainment

Jesus the Christ: The Mesa Easter Pageant...
Candice Madsen

Behind the scenes of the world’s largest annual Easter pageant

Spectacular pageantry, Biblical verse, music, dance, and a cast of hundreds help tell the greatest story ever told on the grounds of the Mesa Arizona Temple.
1 day ago
This image released by Lionsgate shows Keanu Reeves as John Wick in a scene from "John Wick 4." (Mu...
Associated Press

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ comes out blazing with $73.5M

“John Wick: Chapter 4,” the fourth installment in the Keanu Reeves assassin series, debuted with a franchise-best $73.5 million at the box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.
1 day ago
Gwyneth Paltrow takes the witness stand to testify about a 2016 ski collision that caused a man to ...
Ayanna Likens

Utah law professor comments on Paltrow ski crash trial as actress takes the stand

The first week of actress Gwyneth Paltrow's trial wrapped up Friday. Paltrow is being sued over a 2016 ski accident. A University of Utah Professor of Law said this trial is very unique.
3 days ago
Gwyneth Paltrow on the stand...
Sam Metz, Associated Press

Gwyneth Paltrow insists Utah ski collision wasn’t her fault

Gwyneth Paltrow insisted Friday on the witness stand that a ski collision at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016 wasn’t her fault, claiming the man suing her smashed into her from behind with his two skis.
4 days ago
Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...
Madison Swenson

Lagoon delaying opening due to impending weather

Lagoon Amusement Park is delaying its scheduled opening for the 2023 season due to weather.
4 days ago
General views of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, celebrating '100 Years of Wonder' celebratio...
Tamara Vaifanua

Tips for saving money on dining at Disney parks

It’s spring break, and a favorite destination for many Utah families is Disney World or Disneyland. The magical, unforgettable experience doesn’t come cheap, so here are some tips to save on dining.
4 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...
PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.
Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
‘Thrones’ Actress Emilia Clarke Says She’s Had 2 Aneurysms