Ponies, Producing and Learning Russian

Emilia Clarke is the Emmy‑nominated actor who became a global cultural icon as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, a role that catapulted her from fresh drama‑school graduate to one of the most recognisable faces on the planet. Since then she’s starred in everything from Me Before You to Solo: A Star Wars Story, won acclaim on the West End and now leads Ponies, a Cold War spy thriller she also produces.

In this episode, we talk about her childhood love of acting, the imposter syndrome that followed early fame, her failure to master mathematics, the terror and denial surrounding her aneurysms, the shattering grief of losing her Dad, the joy of female friendships and…yes, ok…Game Of Thrones.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Cheating Death Opener

00:14 Emilia Clarke Intro

02:54 Ponies And Friendship

03:39 Learning Russian Lines

06:45 Why Acting Means Failure

08:33 Failing At Maths

11:44 Early Acting Spark

14:10 Losing Her Dad

21:09 Failure At Recovery

24:30 Aneurysm In The Gym

27:10 Misdiagnosed Stroke Scare

28:01 Second Aneurysm

29:25 Surgery Goes Wrong

31:37 Relearning and Emotional Shutdown

33:30 Back to Work Too Soon

35:43 Recovery Without Grace

37:40 Healing and New Diagnoses

40:12 Bad at Celebrity

43:01 Game of Thrones Aftermath

46:08 Body Image and Press

48:11 Brows and Beauty Culture

50:40 Self Knowledge and Closing

💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

You spend your 20s and 30s trying to be somebody else, and then your 40s are the moment when you go back to who you actually are.

I was blessed that after each of my brain injuries, in my mind, there was no other option but to carry on.

The only good thing about having someone that you love pass away is that every good thing that ever happens, you know it's them.

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:

All episodes of PONIES will be available on Sky and steaming service NOW in the UK & Ireland from 22 May

Join the How To Fail community: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content

Elizabeth’s Substack: www.theelizabethday.substack.com

📚 WANT MORE?

Kate Winslet – the Oscar‑winning actor on reinvention, self‑doubt and the power of starting again at any age: swap.fm/l/qrRLW000eyVDrBz3ZtbI

Gillian Anderson – the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning icon on fame, burnout, womanhood and refusing to shrink herself for anyone: swap.fm/l/7NyZMzkfVOpGyDtlB6k0

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Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Engineer: Matias Torres

Assistant Producer: Shania Manderson

Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Alex Lawless

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

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