Kicking off her career in 2009,Emilia Clarkebecame one of the most popular actresses in the world, appearing in one of the biggest shows of all time, and a handful of great movies and other shows. The British actress rose to prominence with her role as Daenerys Targaryen in the monumental HBO show,Game of Thrones. The once unknown actress was now one of the biggest stars in the world, opening her up to a lot of exciting roles going forward.
AfterGame of Thronesthrust her into the spotlight, Clarke began appearing as significant characters in several other big projects, includingMe Before You,Last Christmas,Solo: A Star Wars Story,Secret Invasion, andTerminator Genisys. Emilia Clarke has remained busy throughout her career, and has some significant roles coming up, including anAmazon Prime series calledCriminal,and anotherone for Peacock calledPonies.
Secret Invasion
Cast
Based on the Marvel Comics event, Secret Invasion is a chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that sees Nick Fury attempting to reckon with an alien invasion that has been occurring for years - without humanity even knowing. Fury discovers that the Skrulls have been infiltrating society for far longer than he realized, and danger arises as plans start into motion.
In 2023, Emilia Clarke added another major franchise to her filmography, this time playing G’iah in the MCU series,Secret Invasion. While one of the lesser MCU projects,Secret Invasionis a decent enough superhero thriller, with a solid performance from both Samuel L. Jackson and Emilia Clarke. The MCU had been quietly building up to the show’s narrative for a while, and with some loose threads left after the series, it will be interesting to see where they take some characters next.
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Starring opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn,Emilia Clarke plays a significant role in the series, as G’iah eventually becomes a Super-Skrull. Like most of her performances, Emilia Clarke is great inSecret Invasion, having more to work with than most of the other characters in the series. Having Clarke play G’iah could be important for the appeal of the character if she reappears in the MCU, given how well-liked the actress is.
Terminator Genisys
Terminator: Genysis reboots James Cameron’s Terminator franchise by rewriting the events of the original movie. This time, Emilia Clarke’s Sarah Connor already knows why Jai Courtney’s Kyle Reese has been sent back in time, and an older T-800, once again played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, helps them in their quest to prevent an AI uprising.
AsGame of Thronesbecame one of the biggest TV shows of all time, Emilia Clarke was able to land the role of Sarah Connor inTerminator Genisys,another installment of the long-running science-fiction seriesstarted by James Cameron in the 80s. LikeSecret Invasion,Terminator Genisysisn’t one of the best entries in its franchise, but it is serviceable, attempting to do a lot of new things in the franchise.
Why Terminator Genisys Recast The T-1000 With Lee Byung-hun
Terminator Genisys featured the return of the iconic villain the T-1000, but why was the role recast with Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun?
Emilia Clarke had massive shoes to fill as Sarah Connor, one of the greatest female action characters of all time, with a committed performance by Linda Hamilton in the role in the first two films. Clarke did an admirable job, all things considered, and was one of the biggest highlights of the entire film.Though not as “tough” as Hamilton’s Connor, Emilia Clarke brought a new energy to the character, not content to just rehash what came before.
Robot Chicken
In this stop-motion animated adult comedy show, a variety of original characters, pop culture icons, and notable real-life figures perform a variety of comedy sketches. At the heart of it all is Robot Chicken, a cyborg chicken reanimated by the fittingly-named Mad Scientist.
Premiering in 2005,Robot Chickenwas a staple of Adult Swim throughout its run, as the often hilarious stop-motion sketch comedy series has continuously tapped into the pop culture zeitgeist for nearly two decades. In fact, the series continues to this day, featuring a variety of silly scenarios and creative bits. In 2016, Emilia Clarke took on a role in one of the show’s episodes, adding to her varied credits.
Robot Chickenis the longest-running Adult Swim show.
Though she only appeared in one episode of the show,Emilia Clarke has a short, but memorable scene as Bridget, one of the members of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. In the episode, it is revealed that Bridget had relieved herself in the pants when it was her turn to wear them, and seems to be proud of that fact. It is a silly sketch, but Clarke’s over-the-top performance fits well with the tone of the show.
The Amazing Maurice
The Amazing Maurice is an animated fantasy film that follows Maurice, a streetwise talking cat, and his band of self-aware rats. Together with a human accomplice named Keith, they devise a money-making scheme by pretending to rid towns of their rat infestations. Chaos ensues when they arrive in a town with a real rat problem, challenging Maurice and the gang to confront their ethical dilemmas and uncover a mystery that changes their lives.
Released in 2022,The Amazing Mauriceis an animated adaptation of the novelThe Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodentsby Terry Pratchett. It tells the story of a ginger cat who befriends a group of rats by coming up with a money-making scheme. It’s a fun premise andThe Amazing Mauricetakes advantage of that, being an entertaining, family-oriented animated film that actually ends up being quite charming.
WithThe Amazing Mauricebeing one of her latest voice-action performances, Clarke has shown she is capable of doing even more voice work.
Emilia Clarke has acted in a variety of voice roles over her career, and she is once again fantastic inThe Amazing Mauriceas Malicia, the heroine of the film.Clarke brings a lot of her charm into the role of Malicia, whose quick wit and wild antics make for a fun character to watch throughout the film. WithThe Amazing Mauricebeing one of her latest voice-action performances, Clarke has shown she is capable of doing even more voice work.
The Pod Generation
The Pod Generation is a sci-fi/romantic comedy film that stars Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Rachel and Alvy, a couple on the road to parenthood in the near future that land a coveted spot at a futuristic maternity center. At this center, children are born outside the womb, something Alvy doesn’t like but Rachel wants. The film is a satire of modern society and the technological elements that permeate every part of it.
Emilia Clarke’s undeniable charm makes her an easy candidate to lead romantic comedies, and she has done so throughout her career, with one of her most recent efforts being in the 2023 film,The Pod Generation. Set in a not-so-distant future,The Pod Generationexplores the idea of parenthood as technology allows couples to share their pregnancies via detachable artificial wombs or pods. It’s a touching film that features a pair of fantastic leads.
The Pod Generation Review: Ejiofor Shines In Effective Sci-Fi Satire [Sundance]
A good balance of emotional impact and humor, The Pod Generation warrants considerable discussion about the road to parenthood.
Clarke stars as Rachel Novy alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Alvy Novy, a couple who decide to have a child.What makesThe Pod Generationa great film is the chemistry the two actors have together, able to have wonderful performances with equal humor and heart. Emilia Clarke is especially a standout throughout, and her character explores some complex issues that come up with being a parent.
Futurama
Futurama is an animated science fiction series that follows Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy from late-20th-century New York City. He is accidentally cryogenically frozen for a thousand years and becomes an employee at Planet Express, a delivery service in the retro-futuristic 31st century.
Futuramahas been a long-running on-and-off animated comedy series since 1999. It has been well-received, as it explores the adventures of Fry, Leela, and Bender, who are employees at Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company.Futuramais largely considered one of thebest animated TV shows ever, full of genuine heart and incredible humor. After nine seasons, it still feels like there are plenty more stories to tell for the series.
Futuramacontinues on Hulu, as the streamer has renewed the series for seasons 10 and 11.
Emilia Clarke isn’t a staple ofFuturamaor anything. In fact, she only appeared in one episode back in 2013, titled “Stench and Stenchibility.” Emilia Clarke plays Marianne in the episode, a one-off character who is the girlfriend of Dr. John A. Zoidberg, in what was one of the last episodes of the entire series at the time, before it was revived.Marianne is a kind, empathetic character, and Emilia Clarke voices her to perfection.
Last Christmas
Last Christmas is a romantic comedy movie that stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. Kate is a young woman with a knack for bad decisions who can’t seem to get her life back on track. Working at a year-round Christmas store and hopping from couch to couch, everything seems like it’ll never get better. But when she meets Tom, a lovely fellow who seems too good to be true, her fortunes begin to change just in time for the holidays.
While she is largely known forGame of Thrones, Emilia Clarke began to make a name for herself in the romantic comedy space, which included the 2019 holiday film,Last Christmas. Inspired by George Michaels and Wham!,Last Christmasis a heartfelt, and often very funny romantic comedy that is sure to be a tearjerker as it reaches its climax. Not only is it underrated in Clarke’s filmography, but it is also underrated as a Christmas film overall, even though it is undeniably charming.
Her chemistry with Henry Golding is fantastic throughout the entire film, and by the end of it, it’s hard not to be in love with Emilia Clarke’s character.
Emilia Clarke is magnetic inLast Christmas, playing Kate, a disillusioned Christmas store worker just trying to make it day-to-day.Kate is a lovable mess for most ofLast Christmas, and Clarke’s committed performance makes her incredibly charming. Her chemistry with Henry Golding is fantastic throughout the entire film, and by the end of it, it’s hard not to be in love with Emilia Clarke’s character.
Me Before You
Me Before You is a romantic drama directed by Thea Sharrock and based on the bestselling novel by Jojo Moyes. It follows the story of Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke), a quirky young woman who becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy, paralyzed man. As they grow closer, their relationship transforms both of their lives, exploring themes of love, loss, and personal growth.
Emilia Clarke is incredibly funny and charming, which is a drastic contrast to what most people think of her as an actor, due to herGame of Thronesfame. This is best seen in her various other roles, including inMe Before You, a charming romantic drama that ends up being a very moving tearjerker by the time the credits appear. Based on the novel of the same name,Me Before Youtells of a tragic love between a recently paralyzed man and his caretaker.
Emilia Clarke plays Louisa Clark, the quirky, bubbly caretaker of Sam Claflin’s Will Traynor. The two actors' chemistry is undeniable, and Louisa is bursting from the seams with so much charm. At the time of Me Before You,Game of Throneswas essentially at the height of its popularity, and seeing such a drastic turn for Clarke was impressive, asMe Before Youis one of the best performances in her career.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story explores the early adventures of Han Solo, showcasing his beginnings and key encounters with significant characters in the Star Wars universe. Set in a backdrop of galactic turmoil, the film delves into the origins of his famed relationships and his rise as a rebellious smuggler.
Releasing just half a year afterStar Wars: The Last Jedibecame extremely divisive,Solo: A Star Wars Storysuffered because of that, failing to break even at the box office. Despite that, the Han Solo prequel film is actually a fantastic entry into the franchise as a whole, and one of the most underrated Star Wars projects that Disney has made. It captures the spirit of the original trilogy perfectly.
What Happened To Qi’ra After Solo: A Star Wars Story
After Emila Clarke’s Qi’ra left Han Solo to join Crimson Dawn in Solo: A Star Wars Story, what happened next to the smuggler’s first love?
Despite being the backstory for Han Solo, Emilia Clarke plays a new character in the film, Qi’ra. Friends with Han for most of their lives,Qi’ra is the primary love interest of the iconic character, but by the end of the film, she makes a tragic decision, choosing to betray Hanand look out for herself. Clarke is great as the character, and it is a shame that she might not play her again, given that Disney seems to have no plans to follow up on the dangling story threads the movie left off with.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Few actors could say that one of their earliest projects is also incredibly important for pop culture as a whole, shaping an entire industry due to how groundbreaking it was. Emilia Clarke can, though, given she was one of the most significant pieces ofGame of Thronesfor all eight seasons. It’s hard to overstate just how much of an impactGame of Thronesmade on the television industry, and even though it ended on a divisive note, it is still considered one of thegreatest shows ever made.
Emilia Clarke took the world by storm as Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons and thought to be heir to the Iron Throne.Dany became one of the most popular TV characters of all time throughout the show’s run, with audiences watching her amass power and influence over the course of her journey.Game of Thronesis a monumental moment in television andEmilia Clarkerose to the occasion beautifully, portraying a character that continues to endure to this day.
