Emilia Clarke’s chilling admission: 'I lived like death was following me'

Emilia Clarke has opened up about the terrifying aftermath of surviving two life-threatening brain aneurysms.

The 39-year-old actress revealed that she spent years believing she had somehow "cheated death".

Emilia, who shot to global fame as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, suffered the devastating medical emergencies in 2011 and 2013 while her career was skyrocketing. 

Although she recovered and went on to become one of television's biggest stars, she admitted the emotional scars lingered long after the physical ones healed.

Speaking candidly, Me Before You actress confessed she felt haunted by the experience and feared death would eventually come back for her. 

"For a number of years, I felt that I had cheated death, and it was coming to get me," she said, adding that she often questioned why she had survived when others had not.

Terminator Genisys star also revealed she worried the brain injuries had damaged her ability to perform, jokingly adding that some critics might agree with her concerns.

Despite becoming one of the most recognisable faces on television, the star poured cold water on reports that she earned a staggering $300,000 per episode on Game of Thrones. 

Laughing off the rumours, she quipped that if the figures were true, she would have been driving "a couple of Porsches".

The Ponies actress also reflected on the pressures of fame, admitting she spent years trying to understand her celebrity status before realising how quickly public attention can fade.

In a moving tribute, Emilia once thanked NHS staff for saving her life following a brain haemorrhage. 

She paid special tribute to a nurse who suggested she undergo a brain scan when doctors were struggling to identify the cause of her symptoms.

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