Marvel Star on Her Game of Thrones Role That Nearly Replaced Emilia Clarke: ‘The most awkward audition I’d ever had’

SUMMARY

• Elizabeth Olsen revealed she tried to audition for Game of Thrones as Daenerys Targaryen.
• The Marvel actress failed to win the part but she still became a fan of the series.
• Olsen explained why she has a penchant for auditioning.

Many actresses vied for the coveted role of Daenerys Targaryen, but everyone will agree that the part was truly meant for Emilia Clarke. The actress, who played the Mother of Dragons for eight seasons, has already become synonymous with her Game of Thrones role.

Credits: Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones / HBO

Interestingly, one Marvel star aspired to snag the part when she revealed in an interview that she read one of the famous monologues from the first season. It was none other than Elizabeth Olsen. Although fans believe no one can top Clarke’s performance, it would’ve been intriguing to see the WandaVision star’s take on Khaleesi.

Elizabeth Olsen Almost Played Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones

Every actor must have at least one bad audition story, and Game of Thrones was Elizabeth Olsen’s nightmare. The actress revealed in an interview with Vulture that she tried to win the part of Daenerys Targaryen, but it did not end up as nice as she expected.

When I first started working, I just auditioned for everything, because I like auditioning. And I auditioned for Khaleesi. I forgot that. It was the most awkward audition I’d ever had.

Now, this stirs curiosity as to what truly happened inside the audition room. Olsen seemed really traumatized by the experience. She recalled delivering the line after the Khaleesi was burned. “She’s making this speech to thousands of people about how she’s their queen,” she explained, later adding that the casting team did not know whether they wanted her to speak with a British accent or not. In the end, she did both.

Credits: Elizabeth Olsen in Avengers: Age of Ultron / Marvel Studios

Olsen called the audition a terrible experience. “Anytime someone says, ‘Bad audition story.’ That’s one I remember,” she confessed to the outlet. Still, she does not hold any grudges towards the show. The Scarlet Witch actress is also a massive fan who could not help but obsess over Kit Harington and his onscreen character. Many viewers feel the same way!

She may have failed to snag the role but it only opened new doors. If she worked on Game of Thrones, there’s a high chance that fans won’t have her as Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Like Emilia Clarke’s decade-long stint in the series, Olsen also had a lengthy tenure in the superhero franchise.

Elizabeth Olsen on Her Love for Auditioning

Credits: Elizabeth Olsen in His Three Daughters / Netflix

Olsen mentioned her passion for auditioning and its significance for her as a person. In a conversation with The Off Camera Show, she called the experience some sort of meditation. She also said that when acting, she’s more focused on something “that has nothing to do with the 99% of recycled thoughts that happen in the day-to-day.”

The practice of auditioning allows her to focus on what’s in front of her and that’s how the experience ends up becoming a break for her rather than something to stress about. Olsen admitted that she still feels frustrated whenever she fails to win a part, but she believes that there are really some things that cannot be controlled.

Game of Thrones is currently available to watch on HBO.

Written by Ariane Cruz

Articles Published: 2595

Ariane Cruz, Senior Writer. She has been contributing articles for FandomWire since 2021, mostly covering stories about the latest movies and series. With a degree in Communication Arts, she has an in-depth knowledge of print and broadcast journalism. Her other works can also be seen on Screen Rant and CBR.