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Emilia Clarke’s Health Journey: Surviving Brain Aneurysms
Emilia Clarke, renowned for her role in Game of Thrones, has publicly shared her harrowing experience with brain aneurysms. Before revealing her health struggles in a 2019 New Yorker essay titled “A Battle for My Life,” the actress endured life-threatening medical emergencies while filming the hit series.
The Initial Aneurysm: A Terrifying Gym Experience
Recounting the onset of her first aneurysm, Clarke described a severe headache during a workout. “I reached the restroom, collapsed to my knees, and began to vomit intensely and profusely,” she wrote. “Simultaneously, the pain—sharp, piercing, and tightening—intensified. Deep down, I recognized the gravity of the situation: my brain was being damaged.”
Diagnosis and Emergency Intervention
Promptly transported to a medical facility, Clarke underwent a brain scan, leading to an immediate diagnosis. “The findings were swift and alarming: a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a critical form of stroke, resulting from bleeding in the space surrounding the brain,” the Emmy-nominated actress explained. “I had suffered an aneurysm, an arterial rupture.”
She underwent immediate surgery to address the aneurysm. Clarke described the post-operative pain as “excruciating.” During her recovery, she experienced speech difficulties, characterized by “incoherent speech.”
Recovery and a Second Aneurysm
Fortunately, “the aphasia subsided within a week,” Clarke stated, and she was discharged from the hospital approximately a month after admission. However, a subsequent brain scan in 2013 revealed a concerning development. A vascular growth had “significantly increased in size,” necessitating a second surgical intervention.

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Second Surgery and Complications
“Upon regaining consciousness after the surgery, I was overwhelmed by intense pain,” she recounted. “The procedure had been unsuccessful. I experienced a major hemorrhage, and the medical team made it clear that my survival chances were precarious without another operation. This time, they would need to access my brain through a craniotomy – the traditional surgical approach involving opening the skull.”
Triumph Over Adversity
In a testament to her resilience and the expertise of her medical team, Clarke thankfully affirmed her complete recovery. She shared that she is now “at full health.” Her story serves as an inspiration and raises awareness about the seriousness of brain aneurysms and the importance of early detection and treatment.