Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke explains why she rejected 50 Shades of Grey

Photo credit: Dan MacMedan/Getty Images
Photo credit: Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

From Digital Spy

Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke has finally explained her decision to turn down the role of Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades series – and it's not for the reason you'd expect.

That reason being the films are a bit rubbish.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about why she opted not to free her inner goddess, Emilia admitted that it was more to do with nudity than a dislike for the trilogy itself. (In fact, Emilia even called Sam Taylor-Johnson's Fifty Shades vision "beautiful".)

Reflecting on the preoccupation people still have with her nude scenes as Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons star explained: "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.

"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."

Emilia added that she worried about being "pigeonholed" for the rest of her career, arguing that starring in a film "where the entire thing is about sensuality and sex and being naked" would have meant a constant discussion about nude scenes.

Photo credit: HBO
Photo credit: HBO

Related: Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke says she still gets "a lot of crap" for filming nude scenes

"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'."

We think you made the right choice, Emilia.

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Game of Thrones aired on HBO in the US, and you can also catch up on the show via Hulu. Viewers in the UK can catch up via Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.


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