Emilia Clarke doesn’t want to be remembered as Daenerys Targaryen

Emilia Clarke doesn’t want to be typecast. On many occasions the “Game of Thrones” star, who plays determined Mother of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen, has said she’s reluctant to do nudity — one of the reasons she turned down “Fifty Shades of Grey.” “I have done naked scenes before, and I was worried about being stigmatized by doing it again,” she admits. Now she’s in “Terminator: Genisys” playing a much more fierce character: Sarah Connor, the mother of post-apocalyptic revolutionary John Connor (Jason Clarke), who in the film’s own timeline has been fighting alongside nice killer cyborg T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger, again) since childhood.

Do you feel you’ve been lucky with the roles you’ve received?

If being lucky means being able to work for many years seeking an opportunity, then yes, I’ve been lucky. Television gave me a boost, but I don’t want people to remember me as Daenerys Targaryen from “Game of Thrones”.

The characters you play tend to be very strong. How alike them are you?

I’m not ultra feminist, but I feel that I identify with girls who can do everything, and who use their power to defend good causes. I now get to play with a very different version of a young Sarah Connor, and I like that a female character has become iconic.

Is it difficult to perform such an iconic role?

I think it was more exciting than scary; Sarah is legendary and beautiful. What we did was impregnate her with a different force and create something new.

You seem to gravitate towards action and fantasy.

I have fun. Although for that you have to be in shape and have good arms: holding weapons, shooting and running involves a lot of wheezing. When you see a big action movie, it seems like everything is easy, but when you start to do it, it’s not. Especially with Sarah, who’s a tough woman who becomes a warrior and draws strength from all sides.

What do you do not like about being recognized on the streets?

I’ll confess that I don’t like what fame brings; sometimes I just want to be invisible, so I can walk down a street and enjoy a good time.

Would you like to create a feminist movement?

I don’t know, I think it’s good enough to work from my trench. My character on “Game of Thrones” is a feminist, but in real life, I’m very different from that character. But there are some aspects that I do admire. I see my character as an icon of feminism. She is strong and fights against everything.

You have said in various interviews that you don’t want to do nude scenes with every project.

Yeah, right… I always say I should do more exercise, but I don’t have a sporty spirit. Something that I do have clear is that I have no objection to taking off my clothes, as long as the story justifies it.

Did you fulfill any dreams doing Terminator: Genisys?

Working alongside a cyborg murderer. But above all seeing myself in the midst of a film that I grew up with, with people whom I have admired, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Does anything worry you or make you laugh about your career?

Flattery makes me very sad, especially when you are notified that you were chosen as the most desirable woman in a magazine — that sort of thing. I worry about “Game of Thrones” ending, because it is a very important part of my life as a woman and actress. But you know what they say: dreams don’t last forever.