Emilia Clarke on why she found her ‘mildly lesbian’ scene in Game of Thrones so ‘awkward’

Emilia Clarke, beloved for her iconic role as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones, has always been open about the ups and downs of filming the show.

With its intense, often risqué scenes, one might think that some of her more infamous moments would top her list of awkward experiences.

But according to Clarke herself, the most uncomfortable scene for her to film wasn’t one of the brutal battles or fiery dragon standoffs—it was what she jokingly calls a “mildly lesbian” moment.

In an interview with Digital Spy, Clarke revealed that a scene from the first season, where Daenerys’s handmaiden Doreah (played by Roxanne McKee) teaches her about intimacy, was surprisingly the hardest for her to get through.

For context, this is the scene where Doreah, trying to help Daenerys gain control over her marriage with Khal Drogo, offers some hands-on lessons in seduction.

“Funnily enough, the most awkward scene for me to film was the mildly lesbian scene with Roxanne,” Clarke admitted.

While Game of Thrones is known for pushing the envelope with its explicit content, this particular moment was more subdued—but it still managed to make Clarke squirm.

She explained why this scene stood out to her: “I think it’s because Dany found it tricky.”

“With the handmaiden scene, it was more kind of tricky,” Clarke said, hinting that both she and her character were a little out of their element.

When season six teased a flirtation between Daenerys and Yara Greyjoy (played by Gemma Whelan), fans were quick to speculate about a potential romance. Clarke, ever the good sport, leaned into the idea, quipping in an interview: “There’s mild flirtation, which is exciting to say the least. I mean, get rid of Daario, bring on the ladies!”