Emilia Clarke Spills the Beans About Khaleesi and All of Those Game of Thrones Rape Scenes

Updated on 4/6/2016 at 9:00 PM

The always-stunning Emilia Clarke graces the cover of Glamour's May issue, and in addition to looking jaw-droppingly gorgeous in the spread, the actress didn't hold back in the interview when it came time to discuss Game of Thrones. From thoughtful commentary on GOT's divisive rape scenes to why she thinks the show is actually quite empowering for women, Clarke takes us inside the mind of everybody's favorite Khaleesi. Keep reading to see what she had to say, and then check out all the important details you should know about GOT's sixth season before it returns on April 24.

On Game of Thrones being about more than just dragons: "I love that so many women watch the show. If you look at Game of Thrones on face value — blood, tits, dragons, swearwords — you're like, 'Oh, this must be for guys.' But if you take that away, the story lines are fascinating depictions of the struggle for power. And women are in on that conversation."
On why Khaleesi is more than just a role to her: "Within the space of time between them saying, 'You've got the part of Khaleesi,' and now, I lost my power. I found it. I lost it. I found it. As a woman — no, as a young adult, you spend your twenties figuring out who you are and what you want to do; it's a scary time. There are days when I feel like the less strong version of myself . . . I know I'm gonna put the f*cking wig on and go out there and let her refulfill me."

On all that GOT nudity (especially Khal Drogo's): "Oh, I did. I saw his member, but it was covered in a pink fluffy sock. Showing it would make people feel bad. It's too fabulous. No, I don't know why. But I'd like to bring your memory back to Mr. Michiel Huisman [Khaleesi's love interest in seasons four and five] and I copulating for the first time, which began with me saying, 'Take off your clothes,' and then you got to see his perfect bottom."
On the show's frequent rape scenes: "Yes. Well, Daenerys and Khal Drogo's arranged marriage, and the customary rape that followed — ask George R.R. Martin why he did that, 'cause that's on him. But I thought the consensual sex she has thereafter was genius. She is physically saying, 'You can't rape me again. I'm going to be in control and show you something you've never seen before.' At the heart of it, we're telling a story; you need that part of the story to feel empathy for Daenerys. You see her attacked by her brother, raped by her husband, and then going, 'F—k all of you, I'm gonna rule the world.' That's where we are now."
On how she'd like the show to end: "I want to see Daenerys and her three dragons share the throne. Eat goat they've barbecued. And bring back all the pretty boys, get them to take their trousers down, and be like, 'I'm now the queen of everything! I'd like close-ups of all the boys' penises, please.'"

On the role she really wanted: "[The robot] in Ex Machina. I mean, Alicia Vikander is brilliant in it. Looking at the performance now, I was so wrong for it. Aside from Daenerys, I've never wanted a role as much as Louisa [in Me Before You]."
On why she's so excited to show the world Me Before You: "I was obsessed with My Fair Lady growing up. As an actor, you want to be able to show a character's growth. It's fulfilling. And I'm very close to Lou as a person. At school I was uncertain and unsure. So there was a sincerity that I was so desperate to play, because with Daenerys I've spent a career putting armor on."