Emilia Clarke Explains Why She Did Nude Scene In Game Of Thrones

Emilia Clarke shocked Game of Thrones fans when she appeared nude as Daenerys Targaryen for the concluding scene of the episode titled "Book of the Stranger," the fourth of the series' sixth season. Clarke had previously signed a no-nudity clause with the show, after appearing naked several times in the show's debut season, but says she was never really against nude scenes. She just needed to be prepared properly.

"All I needed was vodka and some flattering lighting and I was ready," the 29-year-old actress tells The Sun. She goes on to describe the scene, in which Dany sets her captors on fire but emerges unscathed from the flames, as "empowering."

"I was so thrilled with it. It's not a sexy scene, she's not naked for no reason, it's not gratuitous. She's naked because she's just destroyed her enemies in this almighty blaze after they underestimated her.

"She played her trump card — how could I say no?"

There had been rumors from the set of Game of Thrones that Clarke had outright refused to undress for Game of Thrones anymore, having become fed up with the amount of female nudity in the show. Clarke took this opportunity to set the record straight, saying that she's willing to do what it takes so long as it serves the story.

"If a nude scene forwards a story or is shot in a way that adds insight into characters, I'm perfectly fine with it," she says. "Sometimes explicit scenes are required and make sense for the characters or story, as they do in Westeros. If it's gratuitous then I will discuss with a director on how to make it more subtle."

Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.