In Deauville, where she received the Nouvel Hollywood prize, the sunny Game of Thrones actress looks back on her cinematic crushes, her relationship with fashion, and her love for France.
Vogue France Emilia Clarke , the unforgettable Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO Game of Thrones phenomenon , was at the Deauville American Film Festival to receive the Nouvel Hollywood prize, which awards a star of American cinema. The same day, September 3, The Pod Generation premiered at the festival, a Sophie Barthes directed film, in which the actress stars, telling the story of a couple who call on artificial intelligence in the hopes of having a baby. It was the perfect occasion for the sunny actress, decked out in Chanel throughout the festival, to discuss this award, as well as look back on her love for French cinema and her vision of the New Hollywood.
A head-to-head in Deauville with Emilia Clarke:
You received the New Hollywood prize here in Deauville. What does this award mean to you? And for your career?
It means the world to me! It has long been my dream to be able to work alongside filmmakers that I admire and minds I want to learn from, so for such a prestigious festival as Deauville to recognize me for my work makes my imposter syndrome take a momentary back seat!
What is your personal vision of the New Hollywood? Of this new generation of actors and filmmakers?
My vision of the New Hollywood is one of action, change, representation, equality in both country and leadership roles and of true fierce unapologetic creativity. I want to be in lock step with my peers making work that challenges, and changes the status quo, that asks questions of our society and of the ways in which we can encourage people to see the humanity within us, and the environment around us as things of importance. The new generation of Hollywood continues to inspire and push me, both creatively and professionally, the future’s bright!
Of your generation, which actress do you admire?
Too many to count! But I currently have one helluva girl crush on Jessie Buckley . She portrays such a range of emotions with such a deft grace that makes her transform in a way that pushes me to want to be better myself!
Which young director would you like to work with?
Again, I could write a book here, but someone whose work I’m in awe of would be Charlotte Wells .
What differences do you see between American and European cinema?
I do see a difference, and I think that speaks to the fact that in European cinema there is more encouragement to take risks, and how it puts less onus on a financial reward and more on the creative act itself that is rooted in a freedom of expression. That kind of fluidity allows for films that don’t bow to a rule book and can result in pieces of work that show a real identity. All this being said, films need to make money for the industry to survive but I would love to work more within a European sphere to fully explore the breadth of my ability. I’ve spent a long time in the heat of the studio system in America and am ready to be on projects that are smaller and more intimate (not to say that I don’t still love being a superhero…)
Which French filmmakers do you admire?
I am blown away by Celine Sciamma . Portrait of a Lady on Fire ’s visuals have not left my imagination since I saw it. I’m also incredibly excited to see Bertrand Bonelli ‘s The Beast .
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