If the character played by Emilia Clarke remains in everyone’s memory, did you know that the Mother of Dragons was played by another actress? This is what she became.
The most awarded series in the history of American television, Game of Thrones was a phenomenon like no other. The television adaptation of the literary fantasy saga written by George RR Martin – who is also struggling to finish his story, as he revealed – has allowed many actors to achieve notoriety . This is the case of Emilia Clarke who, before this program, was unknown to the battalion.
Emilia Clarke, not the first Daenerys
For 8 seasons, the London actress played one of the most difficult roles in this colossally successful adaptation: that of Daenerys Targaryen . The object of all desire, the exiled princess with platinum blonde hair is sold to a Dothraki lord in the first episode of the series. Under the control of Khal Drogo (played by Jason Momoa ), the young woman is the victim of rape scenes.
A particularly hard role to play, especially for an inexperienced actress. Before Emilia Clarke played the Mother of Dragons, another actress took on the features of Viserys’ sister: Tamzin Merchant . Aged 21 at the time the pilot episode was filmed, the British actress played Daenerys alongside Jason Momoa.
Deemed disappointing, the pilot was completely returned. But in the role of the future Mother of Dragons, there is no trace of Tamzin Merchant… since it is Emilia Clarke that HBO viewers discover at the launch of the series. What happened ?
Why Tamzin Merchant left Game of Thrones
In an interview given to the Entertainment Weekly site in 2021, more than 10 years after this failed pilot, the short-lived Daenerys actress agreed to return to this experience. The least we can say is that the result shocked her. She had to take her courage in both hands to admit that this role was simply not made for her. Tamzin Merchant also remembers a moment that had a big impact on her during the filming of this pilot episode:
Some very persuasive people convinced me to do it. Then I found myself naked and scared in Morocco, riding a horse who was clearly much more excited to be there than I was.
The actress is referring here to an intimate scene between her and Jason Momoa, which was interrupted because of a horse… in full erection. Despite this traumatic experience, the actress preferred to see the bright side of things – not without judging the series with a harsh eye:
Shooting this pilot was a really good lesson. It was a call to listen to my instinct and follow it, because I tried to remove myself from this situation and, during the contract process, I did. (…) I had no training as an actor, only my instinct. And what excites me and what motivates me is a compelling story and a compelling character . So for me, Game of Thrones was never that.
HBO executive Michael Lombardo explained the reasoning behind the decision to replace Tamzin Merchant with another actress: ” There was an element of casting that we had to rethink, [a role] that was compromised. . We all knew Daenerys’ journey was crucial. Her scenes with Jason [Momoa] just didn’t work. ”
What has Tamzin Merchant been doing since Game of Thrones ?
Far from being embittered by this experience, the actress prefers to express her relief at having left, as she explains to Entertainment Weekly:
If I hadn’t been released from my contract, I think it would have taken me far from the creative person I am today . Plus, if I were very rich and famous, I wouldn’t have time to do everything my soul needs to do. Expressing myself creatively is a greater need than any amount of wealth I could have gained from this part.
At peace with herself, the actress revealed in the series The Tudors then played one of the main roles in the series Salem (2014-2017), and she is currently starring in Carnival Row with Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne. At the same time, she pursued a career as an author of children’s novels. In 2021, she released her first work, La maison Chapelier
