Emilia Clarke Turned Down ‘Fifty Shades’ Films Because of ‘Game of Thrones’ Nudity
Emilia Clarke revealed that she turned down the role of Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades trilogy since she already did in Game of Thrones. Even though it was brief she didn't want to be "pigeonholed."
The actress took part in The Hollywood Reporter's Drama Actress Roundtable alongside Michelle Williams, Patricia Arquette, Christine Baranski, Danai Gurira and Niecy Nash.
Clarke explained her decision to not take the role. "Well, Sam [Taylor-Johnson, the director] is a magician. I love her, and I thought her vision was beautiful. But 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," she explains. "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. So, that coming up, I was like, 'I can't.'"
Clarke added that she didn't want to get the questions about nudity any longer. "I did a minimal amount and I'm pigeonholed for life, so me saying yes to that, 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 and be like, 'No, you can't keep asking me this question,'" she concluded.
Ultimately the role of Anastasia Steele went to Dakota Johnson who portrayed the character in all three films.