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    Emilia Clarke turned down Fifty Shades for a very important reason

    And we get it.

    Jenny Proudfoot's avatar
    By Jenny Proudfoot
    Published 28 May 2019 In News

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    And we get it.

    Game of Thrones season eight has officially come to a close, marking the end of the series.

    But despite Jon Snow and Arya Stark saving the day, it was Daenerys Targaryen that everyone’s been talking about.

    From that Starbucks cup blunder to the revelation that we’ve all been pronouncing her title wrong, she has been making all the news.

    This week however it was Emilia Clarke that got everyone talking, first for her hilarious run-in with Brad Pitt, and then for the revelation as to why she opted out of the Fifty Shades films.

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    Yes, incase you forgot, Emilia Clarke was initially approached by Sam Taylor-Johnson for the role of Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey series, a role that the actress turned down.

    Speaking of turning down the role on The Hollywood Reporter’s Dramatic Actress Roundtable, Emilia explained: ‘The last time that I was naked on camera on [Game of Thrones] was a long time ago, and yet it is the only question that I ever get asked because I am a woman. And it’s annoying as hell and I’m sick and tired of it because I did it for the character — I didn’t do it so some guy could check out my tits, for God’s sake.’

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    She continued: 'So, that coming up, I was like, “I can’t.” I did a minimal amount and I’m pigeonholed for life, so me saying yes to [Fifty Shades], where the entire thing is about sensuality and sex and being naked and all of that stuff, I was just like, “No way am I going to voluntarily walk into that situation and then never be able to look someone in the eye.”’

    Well, that’s that.

    Jenny Proudfoot
    Jenny Proudfoot
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    Contributing Features Editor

    Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

    In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.

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