The essence
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Star Game of Thrones series« Emilia Clarke performed at the event Variety, dedicated to the power of women, in London on June 3.
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During her speech, the actress spoke about the terrible illness she suffered, which led to two brain hemorrhages and nearly ruined her acting career.
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After suffering bleeds in 2011 and 2013, Clarke made it her goal to help others who had suffered similar injuries through SameYou, a brain injury recovery charity she founded with her mother, Jennifer Clarke.
Emilia Clarke is speaking openly about her medical history and its impact on her career. On June 3, Clarke spoke at an event Variety's Power of Women in London. In her speech, the 39-year-old actress spoke about the quiet struggle she twice endured at the peak of her career in «Game of Thrones» . "For several years, I felt like I'd cheated death and it was coming for me," Clarke told a high-profile audience, referring to two brain hemorrhages she suffered in her early 20s. In February 2011, shortly after filming the first season, «Game of Thrones» , Clarke suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage and underwent minimally invasive emergency surgery.
Following the surgery, she developed aphasia, making it difficult for her to speak. Clarke's doctors also noted the presence of a smaller aneurysm on the other side of her brain, which may or may not remain dormant. During a routine examination in 2013, doctors noticed that the second aneurysm had doubled in size, necessitating a second surgery that required opening her skull.
Emilia Clarke visits the SiriusXM studios in New York City on January 14, 2026. Photo: Getty Images
During her first hemorrhage at age 22, Clarke was able to continue working on the series. «Game of Thrones» . However, the second hemorrhage, which occurred at age 24, occurred shortly after her Broadway debut in the play "Breakfast at Tiffany's"« , which she said resulted in "bad reviews." "I was convinced I had cheated death and was destined to die, and every day I thought about nothing else," the four-time Emmy Award winner said in an interview. Variety in the May issue. In an interview with the program "« How to Fail with Elizabeth Day"» In May, Clarke added, "It was like, I'm not supposed to be here. This is going to come and get me. You walk around knowing your body has failed you. Your brain has failed you... and no one sees it.".
For Clarke, coming to terms with her health wasn't easy. "I genuinely felt like I'd done something wrong and that I shouldn't be here," Clarke continued, before shifting to a slightly lighter tone. "I also thought it had ruined my acting ability—which some might agree with!"«
Rose Leslie, Maisie Williams, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, and Natalie Dormer pose backstage at a performance of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in New York City on March 26, 2013. Photo: Getty Images
Several years later, Clarke took the time to process her experiences and acknowledge the impact her difficulties had on her physical and mental health. "Fifteen years after my first hemorrhage, I realize how difficult that time really was," Clarke said. "I never had the chance to comprehend what two brain injuries did to me because I could walk, talk, be myself, remember my lines, and return to filming within weeks of both injuries.".
In 2019, after surviving two brain hemorrhages, Clarke and her mother, Jennifer Clarke, founded the charity SameYou to help other brain hemorrhage survivors. "When I finally shared my story in 2019, we were overwhelmed by the response," Clarke said, recalling the organization's early days. "It was primarily young people who reached out to us to share their stories. Today, tens of thousands of people in our community who have experienced similar experiences say essentially the same thing: the road to recovery feels like falling off a cliff, with no one there to catch you.".
To date, SameYou has raised over $1.5 million in donations.
Emilia Clarke and Jennifer Clarke, co-founders of the brain injury rehabilitation charity SameYou, pose with their medals at Windsor Castle on February 21, 2024. Photo: Getty Images
Read the original article on InStyle.