Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke has revealed to Entertainment Weekly that she turned down the role of Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey movies as she feels “pigeonholed for life” due to her nude scenes as Daenerys Targaryen in HBO’s fantasy series and didn’t want to further add to that.
“The last time that I was naked on camera on [Game of Thrones] was a long time ago, and yet it is the only question that I ever get asked because I am a woman,” said Clarke. “And it’s annoying as hell and I’m sick and tired of it because I did it for the character — I didn’t do it so some guy could check out my tits, for God’s sake.”
“I did a minimal amount and I’m pigeonholed for life, so me saying yes to [Fifty Shades], where the entire thing is about sensuality and sex and being naked and all of that stuff, I was just like, ‘No way am I going to voluntarily walk into that situation and then never be able to look someone in the eye and be like, ‘No, you can’t keep asking me this question,’” she explained.
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With Clarke turning it down, the role ultimately went to Dakota Johnson, who starred alongside Jamie Dornan in the movie and its two sequels. In a parallel universe somewhere however, it seems there’s a Fifty Shades trilogy starring Emilia Clarke as Anastasia Steele and Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey.
Originally published July 1, 2019. Updated July 19, 2024.
