Undergoing surgeries do not just take a toll in one’s physique, sometimes, it affects us in a way we never could have imagined in the mental health department. Such was the case of “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke, who portrays Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons, noted for being strong-willed and has a rebellious attitude.
The stunning actress shocked her fans when she detailed in March through her penned essay for The New Yorker the harrowing health bouts she had many years ago.
Brain Surgeries
There, Emilia opened up about the two emergency brain surgeries she had to undergo in 2011 and 2013 after suffering from an aneurysm. The first time was when she just finished filming the first season of the HBO series and another after the season 3 wrapped up.
The 32-year-old recently revealed her struggles as she dealt with the life-threatening issues at the time and what resulted from this battle. Specifically, she admitted that her self-esteem took a blow after the operations.
After the last surgery that took place in New York before starring in “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and “Me Before You,” Emilia was so distressed that she found it hard to see her reflection.
Initially, this was brought about by the swelling caused by the medications. She added that half of her face was swollen, which made her feel utterly unattractive. Later on, the actress recalled that it was more than just changes on her body – this meant avoiding mirrors and putting make-up without the use of mirrors.
Changes
Fortunately, Emilia found herself once more and mustered the guts to reach into her makeup bag after a long while. However, beauty’s influence on her changed. She noted that although her face didn’t change, she said how she feels about herself did. Many years after the surgeries, the celebrity said she wears less make-up.
What’s admirable about Emilia is that she doesn’t shy away from her experience, even sharing unseen photos at the hospital after the surgeries. She also got candid when it comes to her fears, especially after her second stroke, thinking that it could harm her work because she can no longer act. The recovery for her second operation was harder than the first one, too, as it had affected her mentally.
SameYou Charity
Thankfully her character in the “Game of Thrones” greatly helped her get through the tough times. Because of her portrayal, she was nominated thrice for Emmy and critics predict she will score another nomination for the final season of the show.
Additionally, Emilia founded the SameYou charity in March, which could be her first sortie to philanthropy. After her life-threatening fight against brain hemorrhages, she said she wanted to make a difference. The Mother of Dragons wished to catapult neurorehabilitation support services for optimal recovery to prominence.