Emilia Clarke reveals 'missing quite a bit' of brain as actor opens up about surviving dual aneurysms

HAMPSTEAD, LONDON: Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, has been appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours for her services to people with brain injuries.

Clarke suffered two aneurysms in 2011 and 2013, leading her to establish the charity SameYou with her mother, Jenny. SameYou aims to improve recovery treatment for individuals who have experienced brain injuries.

Emilia Clarke shares insights on Aneurysm ordeals and recovery

Emilia Clarke has shared details about her experiences with two aneurysms in 2011 and 2013. Speaking on BBC’s Sunday Morning, she discussed the impact of the surgeries and the remarkable recovery that followed.

Clarke, who has been appointed an MBE for her services to people with brain injuries, emphasized the challenges of surviving such an ordeal.

Despite missing parts of her brain, she expressed gratitude for being able to lead a normal life with no major repercussions.

Speaking on BBC’s Sunday Morning, she said: "The amount of my brain that is no longer usable - it’s remarkable that I am able to speak, sometimes articulately, and live my life completely normally with absolutely no repercussions."

"I am in the really, really, really small minority of people that can survive that."

When asked about seeing a scan of her brain, Emilia said: "There’s quite a bit missing, which always makes me laugh."

"Because strokes, basically, as soon as any part of your brain doesn’t get blood for a second, it’s gone. And so the blood finds a different route to get around but then whatever bit it’s missing is therefore gone."

Clarke mentioned the difficulty of staying optimistic during the recovery process, especially after the second aneurysm. She described the excruciating pain, repeated vomiting, and the effort to stay conscious and maintain brain function.

The Daenerys Targaryen actor said: "The first time it was difficult, with the second one I found it much harder to stay optimistic. "(I coped with it as a) a day to day thing. I definitely went through a period of being down - putting it mildly."

"The second one, there was a bit of my brain that actually died. If a part of your brain doesn't get blood to it for a minute, it will just no longer work. It's like you short circuit. So, I had that."

Clarke underwent surgery, which she acknowledged as the most painful experience she had ever been through. Despite the challenges, she has been able to continue her acting career.

In a previous interview with CBS Sunday Morning in 2019, Clarke shared never-before-seen images of her in the hospital following one of the aneurysms.

She discussed the impact on her mental health and credited her role in 'Game of Thrones' with helping her stay optimistic during difficult times. Clarke's charity, SameYou, works to improve recovery treatment for individuals who have experienced brain injuries.

Emilia Clarke reflects on 'Game of Thrones' role as crucial in her recovery from Aneurysms

Emilia Clarke credited her role in 'Game of Thrones' (GoT) with potentially saving her life during her recovery from two aneurysms. Describing how playing a strong character on set helped her stay optimistic, she mentioned the challenges she faced during her health crisis.

Clarke emphasized the demanding nature of her role, involving walking through fire, interacting with hundreds of people, and working hard. She expressed that the intensity of her work on 'GoT' became a factor that aided her recovery by keeping her focused and determined.

"You go on the set and you play a badass character, and you walk through fire, and you speak to hundreds of people, and you're being asked to be - to work as hard as you possibly can. And that became the thing that just saved me from considering my own mortality."

Clarke, along with her mother Jenny, has been appointed MBEs in the New Year Honours for their services to people with brain injuries through the charity SameYou.

Reflecting on the honor, Clarke described it as "wicked" and highlighted their commitment to helping others based on their personal experiences.