Emilia Clarke has shared a surprising behind-the-scenes revelation from the set of her upcoming Cold War–era spy thriller Ponies, revealing that she broke a rib while filming an intense sequence for the series.
The actress, best known worldwide for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, opened up about the incident during a recent interview promoting the highly anticipated project.
The 39-year-old star explained that the injury occurred while filming a demanding scene intended to show her character’s complicated personal life within the world of espionage.
Ponies is set in the 1970s at the height of the Cold War and follows two women, Bea and Twila, who join forces as CIA operatives after the mysterious deaths of their husbands.
Clarke plays Bea, while White Lotus actress Haley Lu Richardson stars as Twila. Together, the pair uncover secrets that lead them deep into a dangerous intelligence operation, blending emotional storytelling with political intrigue.
Speaking candidly about the experience, Clarke revealed that the rib injury happened during a physically taxing day on set.
What initially felt like discomfort later turned out to be a fracture, something she only realised after filming had wrapped.
“I broke a rib that day,” Clarke said, recalling how she pushed through the scene without immediately realising the extent of the injury.
Richardson confirmed the story during the joint interview, joking that Clarke’s petite frame likely made her more vulnerable to the impact.
The incident added an awkward twist when Clarke later had to explain the cause of the injury to medical professionals — a moment she described with humour and self-awareness.
Ponies marks another major step in Clarke’s evolving career, as she continues to explore roles far removed from the fantasy genre that defined her early fame.
The series places her in a grounded, character-driven spy narrative, focusing on emotional resilience, grief, and survival rather than spectacle.
Industry insiders say the project reflects Clarke’s growing interest in stories that allow her greater creative autonomy.
In previous interviews, she has spoken openly about wanting more control over her career choices after years of global attention and intense filming schedules.
The actress recently admitted that when Game of Thrones ended in 2019, she experienced what she described as a “full mental breakdown.”
After nearly a decade spent on the HBO phenomenon, the sudden pause in her schedule coincided with the onset of the pandemic, forcing her to confront burnout for the first time.
“It was the first time in my professional life that I stopped,” she explained. “I finally had space to understand what I wanted from my career.”
Clarke has since made it clear that she is unlikely to return to the fantasy genre, despite its role in launching her into international stardom. Having started Game of Thrones at just 22 years old — and with only a handful of acting credits to her name — she says she never had time early on to reflect on her artistic preferences.
“So much of my career just happened very fast,” she said. “I didn’t really stop to ask whether it reflected my taste.”
Now, Clarke says she is focused on more grounded, emotionally complex roles, adding that audiences are “highly unlikely” to see her return to dragon-filled storylines in the future.
Beyond the physical injury sustained on Ponies, Clarke has previously been open about her serious health struggles earlier in her career. In 2011 and 2013, she suffered two brain haemorrhages — experiences she has described as life-altering.
The first occurred shortly after the initial season of Game of Thrones wrapped filming, leaving her temporarily unable to speak and close to slipping into a coma. The second required surgery after doctors discovered the bleed had doubled in size.
Clarke has said she remains in a small minority of people who survive such injuries without long-term neurological damage. However, she admitted the experience deeply affected her confidence at work.
“When you have a brain injury, it alters your sense of self,” she previously explained. “All of your insecurities multiply overnight.”
At the time, she feared she might be seen as unreliable or incapable, concerns she says many actors silently carry while working under pressure.
Despite these challenges, Clarke continues to build a diverse and respected body of work. Ponies is expected to premiere later this year and has already generated significant buzz for its female-led espionage storyline and period setting.
For Clarke, the project represents resilience — both professionally and personally — as she continues to take on demanding roles while being candid about the realities behind the scenes.