Emilia danced her way into GoT
The co-creator of Game of Thrones revealed how Emilia Clarke nearly missed out on her starring role in HBO’s fantasy epic.
Clarke, alongside Cate Blanchett, Damian Lewis, Jim Carrey, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige and 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen, was recognised at the 2018 British Academy Britannia Awards in Los Angeles on Friday.
Introducing Clarke, DB Weiss told the audience he and Thrones co- creator David Benioff were wowed by her initial audition as Daenerys Targaryen but still had to convince HBO she was right for the role.
He said: “After the initial pilot we had shown them, their faith in our opinions was less than complete.
“So Emilia flew out to LA for a final audition in HBO’s corporate theatre which was large, dimly lit and empty, except for us two and the president of HBO.”
Weiss said it was possibly the least inviting audition environment he had ever witnessed but Emi l ia nailed it.
He said the HBO boss remained poker-faced and Emilia asked if there was anything else she could do to lighten the mood.
Weiss said: “David asked, ‘Can you dance?’ And Emilia did the robot. And even the president had no choice but to smile.”
Weiss said Emilia got the job 10 seconds after she left the room.
Beniof f said Emi l ia represented the very best of the UK’s film and TV talent.