Before the Throne: The Surprising Jobs Emilia Clarke Held Before Her Rise to Stardom!

Emilia Clarke, best known as the fierce and fiery Daenerys Targaryen from the globally acclaimed series Game of Thrones, is a name synonymous with power, grace, and unyielding determination. Yet, long before she commanded armies and dragons on the silver screen, Clarke was navigating the humble and often challenging world of odd jobs and side gigs. Her journey to stardom wasn’t paved with gold but rather with hard work and resilience, which makes her rise all the more inspiring.

The Journey Before the Crown

Emilia Clarke didn’t step into the limelight overnight. Like many actors, she had to support herself with various jobs while pursuing her dream of acting. These roles, far from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, were crucial in shaping the grounded and tenacious individual she is today.

1. Catering to the Stars

Before becoming one of them, Clarke worked as a caterer at events where she served food and drinks to high-profile guests. Ironically, these gatherings often included the very people she would later stand shoulder-to-shoulder with in the industry. This experience taught her humility and the importance of hard work, reminding her to stay grounded even as her star began to rise.

2. Telemarketing—A Tale of Rejection

In between auditions, Clarke took up a job as a telemarketer, cold-calling potential customers to sell them products. This job, though far from glamorous, was a crash course in handling rejection—something every aspiring actor must become adept at. Clarke later reflected on how the endless string of “no’s” on the phone prepared her for the inevitable disappointments in the acting world.

3. Waitressing with a Smile

Like many struggling actors, Clarke also donned an apron and worked as a waitress. It was a job that required patience, attentiveness, and a constant smile—traits that would later serve her well in the high-pressure environment of film and television. The experience also provided her with a steady income during those uncertain early years and gave her plenty of material for character study.

4. An Acting Gig That Almost Wasn’t

Before her big break, Clarke landed small roles in commercials and student films. One of her earliest gigs was a commercial for a body spray, which required her to perform a series of awkward dance moves. While it wasn’t the most prestigious role, it gave her a taste of what being on set was like and fueled her determination to keep pushing forward.

The Leap to Stardom

Despite the diverse and, at times, thankless jobs she held, Clarke never lost sight of her ultimate goal: to be an actor. Her big break came in 2010 when she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, a role that catapulted her to international fame and earned her numerous awards and nominations.

Looking back, Clarke credits her pre-fame jobs with instilling in her the work ethic and perseverance needed to succeed in the competitive world of acting. “Every job I had before Game of Thrones taught me something valuable,” Clarke has said in interviews. “Whether it was how to handle rejection or the importance of treating everyone with kindness, those experiences made me who I am today.”

A Star with Humble Beginnings

Emilia Clarke’s story is a testament to the idea that every job, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, plays a role in our journey. Before she was the Mother of Dragons, she was a caterer, a telemarketer, and a waitress, all of which contributed to the strong, compassionate woman we see today.

Her path to stardom is a reminder that success often comes after years of hard work, persistence, and the ability to see each job as a stepping stone toward a larger goal. Emilia Clarke’s journey from the catering halls to the Iron Throne is not just a tale of talent but one of resilience, proving that with determination, any dream can be achieved.