Emilia Clarke Says Being a Woman in Hollywood is 'Like Dealing With Racism'

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The 30-year-old actress also shares how empowering her 'Game of Thrones' role is.

Emilia Clarke is getting real about her views on women in Hollywood.

The 30-year-old actress appears on the latest cover of Rolling Stone, and shares her thoughts on being one of the few women on any given set, how actresses are treated in Tinseltown and her iconic Game of Thrones role.


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Clarke expressed the hardships of being a woman in the industry, comparing it to racism.

"I feel so naive for saying it, but it's like dealing with racism," she said. "You're aware of it, and you're aware of it, but one day, you go, 'Oh, my God, it's everywhere!' Like you suddenly wake up to it and you go, 'Wait a f**king second, are you . . . are you treating me different because I've got a pair of tits? Is that actually happening?' It took me a really long time to see that I do get treated differently. But I look around, and that's my daily life."

Rolling Stone

Clarke's GOT character, the "Mother of Dragons" Daenerys Targaryen, has helped her to show women in empowering roles, even if she's seen naked in many scenes.

"It doesn't stop me from being a feminist," the actress added. "Like, guess what? Yes, I've got mascara on, and I also have a high IQ, so those two things can be one and the same."

"Women have been great rulers. And then for that to be a character that I'm known to play? That's so f**king lucky," Clarke continued. "Anyone who seems to think that it's not needed need only look at the political environment we're all living in to be like, 'Oh, no, it's needed. It is needed.'"


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Clarke also opened up about the final season of the HBO fantasy series, sharing that she's "doing one more season. And then that'll be it."

"It's a really interesting season in terms of some loose ends that have been tied, some really satisfying plot points, some things where you're like, 'Oh, my God. I forgot about that!' Rumors are going to be confirmed or denied," she said of season eight. "I mean, I have no doubt there'll be prequels and sequels and who knows what else. But I am doing one more season. And then that'll be it."

As for life after GOT? Clarke will star in the untitled Han Solo Star Wars film and then would love to help other women in the industry. "I would love to start a production company that was just full of nice, funny women," she shared.

For more on Clarke, watch below.