Emilia Isobel Euphemia Rose Clarke was born on October 23, 1986, in London, England. She grew up in Oxfordshire with her father, Peter Clarke, who was a theatre sound engineer, and her mother, Jennifer Clarke, a businesswoman.

Emilia Clarke has an older brother named Bennett, who works in the entertainment industry. She developed an interest in acting at the age of three after seeing a production of the musical Show Boat.

She attended Rye St Antony School and St Edward's School in Oxford before studying at the Drama Centre London, where she appeared in several stage productions.

Her acting career began with a guest role in the BBC One medical soap opera Doctors in 2009. Her breakthrough came in 2011 when she was cast as Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. Her portrayal of Daenerys earned her critical acclaim and several award nominations, including four Primetime Emmy Awards.

She also starred in films such as Terminator Genisys, Me Before You, and Solo: A Star Wars Story. She made her Broadway debut in 2013 as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's and appeared in a West End production of The Seagull.

In addition to her acting career, Emilia Clarke has showcased her singing talent. She performed the song "Last Christmas" in the romantic comedy film of the same name and participated in a parody song for Coldplay's Game of Thrones musical for Red Nose Day.

Emilia Clarke has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career. She won the Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television in 2019 and the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year in 2018. She has also been recognized for her charitable work, including her efforts to raise awareness about brain injuries through her charity, SameYou.