5 Jaw-Dropping Facts About Daenerys Targaryen’s Actress: Emilia Clarke’s $20M Empire And Her New Life As A Criminal

Contents
Emilia Clarke, the iconic actress behind Daenerys Targaryen, remains one of Hollywood’s most compelling figures, transitioning seamlessly from the Mother of Dragons to a diverse array of new and upcoming projects in late 2024 and 2025. She has successfully parlayed her global fame from *Game of Thrones* into a thriving career that spans major film roles, a key part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a significant role as a powerful health advocate. As of this current date, December 24, 2025, Clarke is not just an actor; she is a producer, a savvy businesswoman, and the driving force behind a major international charity. Her post-*Game of Thrones* trajectory is defined by bold choices, including starring roles in an espionage thriller and a multiverse romance, proving her versatility extends far beyond the platinum wig of the Khaleesi. This article dives into the most current and fascinating aspects of her life, from her latest $20 million net worth estimates to the highly anticipated roles that will define her 2025.

Emilia Clarke: The Complete Biography and Filmography Profile

Emilia Isobel Euphemia Rose Clarke MBE is an English actress celebrated worldwide for her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen, the exiled princess who becomes a powerful queen in HBO’s epic fantasy series, *Game of Thrones* (2011–2019).

  • Full Name: Emilia Isobel Euphemia Rose Clarke
  • Date of Birth: October 23, 1986
  • Place of Birth: London, England
  • Education: Drama Centre London (Graduated 2009)
  • Height: 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
  • Awards & Recognition: Four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for *Game of Thrones*, MBE for her services to drama and charity (2023).
  • Charity: Co-founder of the SameYou Foundation, dedicated to brain injury recovery.
  • Estimated Net Worth (2025): Approximately $20 Million USD.

Selected Filmography Highlights

Clarke’s career is marked by a deliberate move away from fantasy, showcasing her range across multiple genres. Her most notable roles include:

  • Television: *Game of Thrones* (2011–2019), *Secret Invasion* (2023) as G'iah.
  • Film: *Terminator Genisys* (2015) as Sarah Connor, *Me Before You* (2016), *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018) as Qi'ra, and the romantic comedy *Last Christmas* (2019).
  • Upcoming Projects (2025/2026): The film *Next Life* and the Prime Video series *Criminal*.

Fact 1: The New Era of Emilia Clarke—Starring in a Multiverse Romance and a Prime Video Heist Series

The post-Khaleesi era of Clarke’s career is arguably her busiest and most diverse. Her 2025 slate is anchored by two highly anticipated projects that showcase her dramatic and action-oriented chops.

The Romantic Drama: Next Life

Clarke is set to star in the romantic drama *Next Life*, which is currently in post-production. Directed by Drake Doremus, the film is described as a sci-fi love story that delves into the concept of parallel realities.

In *Next Life*, Clarke plays Ivy, a jazz singer who finds herself navigating two distinct lives across different universes. Co-starring with Édgar Ramírez and Jack Farthing, this project allows Clarke to explore a deeply emotional and complex character, a stark contrast to the epic scale of Westeros. The plot, focusing on choice and destiny, is designed to be a profound exploration of love in the multiverse.

The Espionage Thriller: Criminal (Prime Video)

For television, Clarke has joined the cast of the Prime Video series *Criminal*, an adaptation of the acclaimed graphic novels by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.

In this gritty, straight-to-series thriller, Clarke takes on the role of Mallory, a character described as a "slick and daring armed robber, as quick with a gun as she is with her wits." Following her successful debut in the MCU’s *Secret Invasion*, where she played the Skrull G'iah, this role further solidifies her presence in the high-stakes world of espionage and action. The 8-episode first season is one of the most anticipated releases for Prime Video in 2025.

Fact 2: The Reason She "Still Can't" Watch *House of the Dragon*

A question that frequently follows Clarke is her opinion on the *Game of Thrones* prequel, *House of the Dragon*. Despite the show's massive success and its focus on her character's ancestors, the Targaryen dynasty, Clarke has consistently stated that she has not watched the series.

In recent interviews, she explained that her decision is not a slight against the show, but rather a deeply personal one. She feels "content and happy" with her own experience on *Game of Thrones*, which spanned nearly a decade of her life. Watching the prequel, she suggests, would simply feel "so odd" and "weird," like seeing a former school or family home taken over by new occupants. This sentiment is shared by other *Game of Thrones* veterans, such as Kit Harington (Jon Snow), highlighting a desire to preserve the distinct memory of their original epic journey.

Fact 3: The SameYou Foundation—Turning Personal Tragedy into Global Advocacy

One of the most profound aspects of Emilia Clarke's current life is her role as a global health activist. Her charity, the SameYou Foundation, co-founded with her mother, Jennifer Clarke MBE, is a direct result of her personal battle with two life-threatening brain aneurysms she suffered in 2011 and 2013 while filming *Game of Thrones*.

The foundation is dedicated to revolutionizing neuro-rehabilitation for young adults who have suffered a brain injury or stroke. Clarke has been vocal about the lack of long-term support and emotional rehabilitation available after acute care, a gap the SameYou Foundation aims to fill.

In 2025, the charity continues to expand its reach, recently announcing a new partnership with Spaulding Rehabilitation in Boston, MA, to enhance brain injury recovery programs. Her work with SameYou has earned her an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2024 New Year Honours list, a testament to her commitment beyond the acting world.

Fact 4: A $20 Million Net Worth and the Power of Endorsements

Emilia Clarke's financial standing reflects her continued success. As of 2025, her estimated net worth hovers around the $20 million mark. This wealth is a culmination of her high-profile acting roles, particularly her salary from the later seasons of *Game of Thrones*, where she was reportedly earning $500,000 per episode alongside her co-stars.

Beyond acting, Clarke has proven to be a smart businesswoman, securing lucrative endorsement deals with major brands like Dior and Clinique. Her visibility on the red carpet, including her stunning appearance at the Global Gift Gala London in November 2025, keeps her profile high and her market value strong.

Fact 5: The Desire to Direct and Her Evolving Creative Vision

As her career matures, Clarke has expressed a strong desire to step behind the camera and become a director. In recent interviews, she has shared her ambition to direct a project "down the road," though she is not rushing the move.

This creative evolution is a common path for established actors seeking greater control over storytelling. Her experience producing and starring in the West End play *The Seagull*, and her involvement in developing her own projects, suggests a future where Emilia Clarke is not just interpreting scripts, but creating them. This move, coupled with her successful foray into comic book writing (with the 2021 series *M.O.M.: Mother of Madness*), marks her as a multi-hyphenate talent whose influence on the entertainment industry is only just beginning to be fully realized.

daenerys targaryen actress
daenerys targaryen actress

Detail Author:

  • Name : Raegan Bednar MD
  • Username : areynolds
  • Email : wfahey@little.org
  • Birthdate : 1998-08-23
  • Address : 334 Chase Vista Rosaleeshire, SD 36227-7608
  • Phone : 1-331-758-4857
  • Company : Koch PLC
  • Job : Marketing VP
  • Bio : Non similique enim quia numquam quo reprehenderit. Eum eveniet totam officia. Officia illo iste iste eos vel autem deleniti. Aut debitis sed et est qui illo beatae.

Socials

facebook:

tiktok: