Emilia Clarke revealed she was blindsided by Game of Thrones’ nudity demands, calling her script moment a “jaw-to-the-floor shock.”

Before becoming the almighty Mother of Dragons, Emilia Clarke was just an actress preparing for her first big break, without quite realizing how exposed that break would be.

As Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, Clarke’s performance became iconic, but the nudity that came with the role wasn’t exactly spelled out upfront. Yep, in a throwback interview, she revealed just how shocking the script turned out to be, stating, (via HeyUGuys),

Of course, her portrayal of Daenerys evolved from a frightened, powerless girl to a fierce leader claiming her destiny, only to meet her end abruptly. While her role demanded emotional depth and physical vulnerability, Clarke pushed herself into it beyond any comfort zone, and man, oh man, it paid off.

Emilia Clarke On Embracing Game of Thrones’ Nudity As ‘Survivalist’

When it comes to nudity on Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke didn’t walk in blind, but of course, she didn’t expect to walk in that exposed either. Though she got fully on board, she didn’t tiptoe around it. Yep, the A-list star understood the assignment and knew what was at stake, not just for her character, but for the emotional stakes of the show itself.

In the same interview, she explained,

For her, Dany wasn’t using sexuality as a weapon; rather, it was a means of adaptation in a brutal, male-dominated world. And her power didn’t come from seduction; it came from transformation, and we can honestly agree with her.

From being a pawn in her brother’s game to becoming absolutely magnetic by the end, she became the breaker of chains, mother of all dragons, but sadly, not the queen of the throne.

Clarke never shied away from the bizarre extremes of the role, whether that meant acting alongside invisible dragons or devouring 28 heart props made of bleach-flavored jam. She even described the set as a supportive space, adding,

On top of that, Clarke finally landed the role after a major recast, replacing Tamsin Merchant from the unseen pilot. Yep, and that added even more pressure to deliver a Daenerys who felt powerful, layered, and authentic, no matter how uncomfortable the journey.

Honestly, since the very first day Daenerys graced our screen, nude scenes and all, she added something bigger than shock value. It truly felt like a rise-from-the-ashes saga. And despite her initial jitters, she never treated her character’s body like a spectacle, but as a symbol of hard-earned strength.

Did House of the Dragon Handle Nudity Better Than Game of Thrones?

Honestly? House of the Dragon might just be doing what Game of Thrones struggled with for years, making nudity feel like part of the story, not just background decoration.

While Game of Thrones was often criticized for tossing in female nudity just because a scene needed “spice,” HOTD seems far more intentional. Yes, we still have brothels and steamy scenes (this is Westeros, after all), but the difference is in how they are framed.

Take Aemond Targaryen’s full-frontal moment; it wasn’t there for shock or seduction. It was raw, awkward, maybe even sad. Meanwhile, HOTD is also being way more careful about how it handles sexual violence, something Game of Thrones got repeatedly dragged for. There’s a clear effort to shift the lens, less objectification, more context.

Even when the nudity shows up, it’s balanced. Yes, men are baring it all too now. Shocking? Sure. But also, it’s about time. House of the Dragon may not be perfect, but it’s definitely shedding the exploitative tag that haunted its predecessor. It’s sexy with a side of substance, and that’s a refreshing change.

So, what do you think? Did Emilia Clarke’s fearless dive into Game of Thrones nudity make Daenerys legendary, or was it just part of the hype? And how do you feel about House of the Dragon switching up the nudity game? Spill your thoughts below.