Emilia Clarke opens up on brain injury recovery

Emilia Clarke has compared recovery from a brain injury to "falling off the edge of a cliff without anyone there to catch you".

The 39-year-old actress has been open about suffering brain aneurysms in 2011 and 2013, and now she has reflected on how difficult it is for survivors of the terrifying health scares.

Speaking at Variety's Power of Women London event on Wednesday (03.06.26), she said: "When I finally shared my story in 2019, we were overwhelmed by the response.

“Mostly young people reached out to tell us their own stories. Today we have tens of thousands of survivors in our community saying essentially the same thing

"The journey to healing feels like falling off the edge of a cliff without anyone there to catch you.”

The Game of Thrones star explained that treatments around brain injuries needs to improve, particularly with aftercare.

She said: "What usually happens when you’re rushed to hospital with a brain injury is that doctors do everything possible to save your life.

"They stop the bleeding, remove the clot, find the source, cut it out, stitch you up, and send you home.

"But what many people don’t realise is that whatever symptoms remain — physical, cognitive, emotional, linguistic — the consequence is unresolved trauma.

"And there are simply too few neuropsychologists and specialist rehabilitation services for that reality to change without a major shift in priorities."