Emilia Clarke took over audiences worldwide with her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen in the acclaimed TV series Game of Thrones.
Following her success on the show, Clarke continued to shine in a variety of other projects, delivering memorable performances in films such as Me Before You (2016), Terminator Genisys (2015), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and Last Christmas (2019).
As a prominent Hollywood figure, Clarke’s personal life has often been the subject of public fascination, leading to widespread media coverage of her dating history over the years.
As of now, Emilia Clarke is believed to be single and is not known to be publicly dating anyone.
However, she has been involved in relationships with several notable figures in the entertainment industry, although some of these rumored romances were mere products of gossip.
Here’s a look at some of the reported relationships Clarke has had, and how they unfolded.
1. Emilia Clarke and Seth MacFarlane
Emilia Clarke was romantically linked to Seth MacFarlane, the creator and star of the popular animated sitcom Family Guy.
The pair reportedly began dating in 2012, but their relationship was short-lived, ending the following year.
A source told at the time that their romance couldn’t withstand the challenges of long-distance, as MacFarlane was based in California while Clarke was filming Game of Thrones in Europe.
Clarke confirmed their relationship in a 2016 interview, where she reflected on the challenges of dating someone in the public eye.
She recounted an incident in New York when a fan offered unsolicited advice about her love life, saying, “I’m a big fan of the show, and I’m not sure what you’re doing with that guy.” Clarke responded to the fan with, “Unh-unh, bro.”
In the same interview, Clarke mentioned that she was comfortable being single at that point in her life.
2. Emilia Clarke and James Franco
Rumors about a relationship between Emilia Clarke and actor James Franco surfaced after the two were spotted together at an art fair in New York City in 2013.
This single sighting was enough to fuel speculation about a romance, with some even falsely claiming that they were engaged.
Clarke dispelled these rumors in an interview, where she humorously remarked, “It’s hilarious. He [Franco] is, of course, beautiful. But … there’s only a handful of women who could form an engagement after two meetings, and I’m not one of them.”
There was no truth to the rumors, and their supposed relationship was nothing more than idle gossip.
3. Emilia Clarke and Jai Courtney
Clarke was also rumored to be dating actor Jai Courtney after they worked together on the 2015 film Terminator Genisys.
Reports of their romance spread quickly, with many claiming that they had started dating while on set.
However, Courtney dismissed these rumors during a 2015 interview on KIIS 1065’s Kyle And Jackie O Show, stating that he was single. “No, I don’t [have a girlfriend]… Your research is like three months old,” he said.
Around the same time, Clarke suggested in an interview with Marie Claire (via Metro) that she was too focused on her career to pursue a romantic relationship, saying, “I just realized that’s not how this life [will] work. It [her career] makes [romantic relationships] absolutely impossible.”
This effectively ended the speculation about their relationship.
4. Emilia Clarke and Cory Michael Smith
In 2014, rumors began circulating about a possible romance between Clarke and actor Cory Michael Smith, her co-star in the Broadway production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
However, there is little evidence to support these claims, and the rumors were never confirmed by credible sources.
Sources close to Clarke emphasized that she and Smith were just friends. The same report mentioned that the two were seen holding hands and slow dancing at a Vanity Fair Oscars party, but this was likely just a friendly gesture.
5. Emilia Clarke and Charlie McDowell
Emilia Clarke was linked to director Charlie McDowell in 2018. The relationship speculation began when Clarke posted a photo on Instagram of two silhouetted figures on a beach, accompanied by the caption, “Well, that was a birthday I won’t be forgetting in a while.” McDowell later posted the same image with the caption, “Happy Birthday, E.”
In another post, Clarke credited McDowell for taking a picture of her on the beach, further fueling rumors of their relationship. However, their romance was short-lived, and by 2019, McDowell had stopped following Clarke on Instagram.
Later that same year, McDowell was seen with actress Lily Collins, leading to speculation that they were dating. The couple eventually married in 2021.
6. Other Rumored “Romances”
Over the years, Clarke has also been linked to her Game of Thrones co-stars Jason Momoa and Kit Harington, though these rumors were primarily driven by fans’ imaginations.
There were also rumors of a possible relationship between Clarke and actor Jared Leto after the two were seen interacting at an award show, but nothing substantial came of it.
Clarke was also rumored to be involved with assistant director Tom Turner, though these reports were never confirmed.
Currently, Emilia Clarke is reportedly single, at least as far as the public is aware.