Fans of the epic fantasy series Game of Thrones were treated to a delightful blast from the past this week, as former co-stars Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa shared a surprise reunion. The pair, who played the iconic married couple Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo, met up backstage in New York City, looking as close as ever.
A Sweet Backstage Surprise
The heartwarming encounter took place on Thursday while Clarke, 39, was in the city to tape an appearance for The Kelly Clarkson Show. Momoa, 46, made an unexpected visit to her dressing room, prompting Clarke to capture the moment and post it to her Instagram. "New York has given me so many things to be grateful for on this trip," she wrote in the caption, "and just when I thought it couldn't get any better…look who walked into my dressing room." She affectionately tagged the photo with the hashtags '#mydragondaddy' and '#westillgotit'.
The photo shows a beaming Clarke, who wore a stylish long-sleeve black top and a glossy black skirt, standing beside a towering Momoa. The actor sported an eclectic, rugged outfit featuring an olive vest, a shredded tank top, and a distinctive black top hat, complete with a lavender scrunchy on his wrist.
From Westeros to Worldwide Stardom
The reunion comes 15 years after the duo first shared the screen in the debut season of HBO's global phenomenon, which premiered in 2011. Although Momoa's character was killed off early, their chemistry and the show's unprecedented success launched both actors into the Hollywood A-list.
Clarke, who was just 22 when she landed the role of Daenerys, remained a central figure throughout the series' eight-season run. Momoa leveraged his breakout role into leading blockbuster franchises, most notably as Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe, and securing major parts in films like Dune and the upcoming A Minecraft Movie.
Clarke's post-Thrones career has seen her lead major films including Me Before You and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Both stars are currently promoting new projects: Momoa is gearing up for the release of his Amazon Prime Video comedy The Wrecking Crew on January 28, while Clarke is starring in the new Peacock espionage series Ponies.
Moving Beyond Dragons and Difficulties
The reunion coincides with Clarke's recent candid revelations about the profound personal impact of concluding the series. In an interview with The New York Times, she admitted to suffering a "full mental breakdown" when the show ended in 2019, a period that coincided with the pandemic. She described it as the first time she had stopped working, allowing her to finally seek autonomy over her career choices.
Clarke also bravely revisited the topic of the two life-threatening brain haemorrhages she survived in 2011 and 2013, which occurred during her early years on Game of Thrones. She confessed to fearing she would be fired from the show, with the health crises dramatically altering her sense of self and amplifying her insecurities.
Looking forward, Clarke has firmly stated she is done with fantasy epics. "You're highly unlikely to see me get on a dragon, or even in the same frame as a dragon, ever again," she declared. Her connection to Momoa continues off-screen, however, as she is set to star alongside his girlfriend, actress Adria Arjona, in the upcoming Amazon series Criminal.
This spontaneous New York meeting served as a poignant reminder of the enduring bonds formed during the making of a television landmark, offering fans a joyful glimpse of two stars whose careers were forever changed by their time in Westeros.
