Tamzin Merchant, the actress originally cast to play Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones, breaks her silence on filming the scrapped pilot of the HBO fantasy series. Based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series, Game of Thrones introduced audiences to the warring families of Westeros as they fought for control of the Iron Throne. Emilia Clarke's Daenerys was one of the key figures in the saga as an exiled princess who is determined to reclaim her birthright at any cost. Many believed she would end up on the Iron Throne by Game of Thrones' conclusion, though the final season took a hard left turn with her arc.
Well before that, though, someone else played Daenerys for Game of Thrones. Much has been said online about the original pilot, which was famously terrible and had to be reshot. In between poor costuming decisions and a horse that got a bit too excited during a sex scene, the Game of Thrones pilot featured Merchant as Daenerys. As is abundantly clear, she was recast when the pilot was reshot, and up until now, she hasn't said a word about her experience.
Merchant recently spoke to EW about her Amazon series Carnival Row and her upcoming novel The Hatmakers, and she finally decided to talk about her brief time as Game of Thrones' Khaleesi. Looking back on it, Merchant calls the experience "an affirmation about listening to my instincts and following them, because I tried to back out of that situation and, during the contract process, I did back out." She was then talked back into it, which led to the actual filming of the pilot. Merchant went on to say this:
"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 be excited just because other people are telling me that I should be excited. I didn't have any training as an actor, I only have my instincts. And what excites me and what drives me is a compelling story and a compelling character. So for me, Game of Thrones was never that. I think it's a testament to Emilia Clarke for making that role iconic – she was obviously excited to tell that story, and she was epic and excellent. But for me, it wasn't in my heart to tell it."
Merchant concluded by saying she's ultimately grateful to have been let go from Game of Thrones, because she believes it "would have taken me to a place far from the creative person that I am today." In not going forward with Daenerys, who became a cultural phenomenon in her own right, Merchant was granted the opportunity to create her own path for herself. She also has nothing but kind words for Clarke, calling her "amazing."
It's hard to imagine a different Daenerys in Game of Thrones, since Clarke did such a wonderful job of playing her. Merchant likely did a good job too, but it evidently wasn't for her. Fans might've expected Merchant to be bitter about the experience, or even sad. Instead, she sounds perfectly happy with how things turned out, and that's a wonderful thing. One could even argue she dodged a bullet, as many are still displeased with how Game of Thrones chose to end Daenerys' story. That might always remain up for debate, but Merchant's reaction to leaving Game of Thrones isn't any longer.
Source: EW