Most big Game of Thrones fans know the story of the show that almost was.D.B. Weiss and David Benioff'due south original pilot was by all accounts an unwatchable mess that had no adventure of condign an international megahit. ButHBO gave the creators another take a chance, and they were able to save the show — by reshooting nearly 90% of it and recasting several major roles. The biggest role that had to exist redone? Daenerys Targaryen.

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That's correct, before Khaleesi became the role that madeEmilia Clarke's career, it was the one that almost broke some other extra — Funfair Row star Tamzin Merchant.

In a dozen years, the original Mother of Dragons has never publicly spoken about her experience filming the infamous episode. But on Thursday during aZoom interview withEntertainment Weekly, she finally broke her silence — and made information technology clear why she wanted to forget virtually information technology! She said:

"Shooting that pilot was a actually smashing lesson. It was an affirmation almost listening to my instincts and following them, considering I tried to dorsum out of that state of affairs and, during the contract procedure, I did back out. I was talked dorsum into it by some persuasive people. Then I found myself naked and agape in Morocco and riding a equus caballus that was clearly much more excited to be in that location than I was."

"Naked and afraid"? Eep. Actors may accept to get nude sometimes, but simply what they're comfy with — they should never be put in a situation where they're afraid!

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As far every bit that horse comment…

Well, the story goes that in the original version of the scene where Daenerys and Khal Drogo consummate their wedlock in the desert, the scene was more of a seduction — closer to how it was in the books. (In the final production it was made a lot more savage and disturbing.)

Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa in the Game Of Thrones pilot
Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa in the Game Of Thrones pilot. / (c) HBO

Unfortunately the version with all the sensitivity was interrupted when the nearby equus caballus got a huge erection on camera. (That story was told in an oral history calledFire Cannot Kill A Dragon.)

Just back to Tamzin. She'due south since washed a lot more TV — you may have seen her in The Tudors, Supergirl, or Salem — so what was it nearly GOT that was off? Besides the voyeuristic horse, obviously. She explained:

"It was a lesson that if my guts are telling me a story isn't something I'm excited to tell, then I shouldn't try to exist excited just because other people are telling me that I should exist excited. I didn't have whatever training as an histrion, I only accept my instincts. And what excites me and what drives me is a compelling story and a compelling character. Then for me, Game of Thrones was never that. I think it'south a attestation to Emilia Clarke for making that role iconic — she was apparently excited to tell that story, and she was epic and excellent. But for me, it wasn't in my heart to tell it."

So what was it like for the young actress to watch the bear witness she was almost a part of become a pop culture awareness?

"It was kind of funny riding to auditions on buses with Emilia Clarke's face up on it. Like, 'Oh my mode of transport is quite interesting today!' Information technology'south been a thing I felt like I watched unfold and it'due south been fantastic for the film industry in Northern Republic of ireland and Croatia, and that has been actually great."

Ultimately it was the producers and not Tamzin who made the decision to recast as her scenes only weren't working. But the actress, who but wrote a YA fantasy novel calledThe Hatmakers, says it was the best thing not just for the show but for her creative journeying as well.

Tamzin Merchant in Carnival Row Amazon
Tamzin Merchant in Carnival Row. / (c) Amazon Prime/YouTube

She illustrated this with a reference to the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy taleThe Red Shoes. She explained:

"It tells a story of this daughter who has a pair of handmade shoes; these crimson shoes that she'southward made herself. She's walking on her path and she gets taken by this lady in a gold carriage. The lady sweeps her off to this thou life of riches and luxury. And she burns the scarlet shoes that the girl made. All the girl wants is a pair of cherry shoes and she eventually buys this new beautiful pair — and they dance her to death."

So the gold wagon isGOT, got information technology. She continued:

"And for me, I think if I had to get in that golden carriage — if I hadn't been released from my contract — I call back it would have taken me to a place far from the artistic person that I am today. As well, if I was very rich and famous, I wouldn't have time to do all the things that my soul needs to do. Expressing myself creatively is a need that's more important than any amount of riches that I could take gained from that part. If I did I think I'd just distract myself — only that'due south only me, not everyone else; I think Emilia Clarke is amazing. I just wouldn't be the creator that I am today [like with the book]. I'grand profoundly grateful to have claimed my own path to be carving it for myself."

Well, at that place you go. It sounds like spending a few hours naked and afraid in the Moroccan desert ultimately led her to the palace of wisdom.

Can you imagine Game of Thrones with anyone other than Emilia Clarke? And would You lot have been able to say no to the golden railroad vehicle ride??

[Image via WENN/Avalon/HBO.]

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