Breakfast at Tough enough to BEST KNOWN AS DAENERYS ard Greenberg, the playwright, has command a nomadic Targaryen, the strong flaxen-haired really gone back to the original noarmy on television, dragon-warrior queen on the HBO vella, so it’s a very different angle on emilia clarke is ready Holly than the movie.” medieval-fantasy series Game of Thrones (Season 3 begins Mar. 31), Unlike the beloved movie, the play to conquer broad26-year-old British actress Emilia is set during World War II and is far way in a role more Clarke is, in reality, a mild-mannered, more faithful to Capote’s original 5-foot-3-inch brunette. And she’s evin keeping with her conception of Holly, who is escaping ery bit the quintessential diminutive from her difficult past in the South. sweet nature (and ingenue as she makes her Broadway “I’m enjoying getting to explore her true hair color). debut this month playing vivacious Southern roots,” says Clarke. “A lot yet vulnerable good-time girl Holly of my research has been looking into By Brian Scott Lipton Golightly in a stage adaptation of what it would have been like to grow Truman Capote’s classic novella, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. up during the Great Depression in the American South. I “One of the things I love about Holly is that she finds think where she comes from says a lot about who she her way in life by coming to New York, and I’m getting becomes. While she has a lot of heart and spirit, she’s also to see New York through her eyes,” says Clarke. “This an incredibly broken person. And I am completely excitis my first time in New York as a grown-up. I used to ed to take on all of this.” visit some of my mom’s family here when I was a kid, As Clarke acknowledges, a behind-the-scenes drama but during the show, I’m living here and I love it. As a nearly cancelled her Broadway debut before it even beLondoner, I like to walk, and I am so happy to be some- gan; a major investor in the show pulled out at the very place I can do that. I get out when I can and explore last minute. The day before rehearsals were to start, the places like the West Village and SoHo. In fact, I think cast was told that the show was possibly being put on when I have to leave New York after the play is over, hold. “It was incredibly nerve-racking to say the least,” there’s going to be a lot of kicking and screaming.” she says. “Getting that call was a shock to the system. I Being able to spend time in the city is just one of many had already put my heart and soul into the show and reasons Clarke is thrilled to tackle this iconic role. “I was sure it was going to happen. But, in the end, somestarted doing television [Triassic Attack, Syfy, 2010] thing good came out of it, in that it really bonded us as right out of drama school, so this is my first chance to a cast before rehearsals even started.” really get back on the stage,” she says. “I’m so grateful To say Clarke takes her work seriously is a bit of an that Game of Thrones has become so popular that it’s understatement. Getting to spend time with friends and given me the opportunity to not only get back to my loved ones—including actor-director and recent Oscar stage roots, but also take on a dream role like Holly. And host Seth MacFarlane, with whom she’s been romantifor any actor, Broadway is like Mecca. It’s so glamorous. cally linked—or indulging her passion for fashion alSo, it’s a huge deal for me to be here.” ways takes a backseat to her job. “I am just one of those Still, following in the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn, indulgent actors who, when I do something like Breakwho created the role of Holly in the legendary 1961 fast at Tiffany’s or Game of Thrones, it’s really all I think film version of the iconic New York City tale Breakfast about,” she says. “The rest of my life gets thrown to the of Tiffany’s, isn’t an easy task, admits Clarke. “Of side. My friends know that for three months they might course, it’s a daunting prospect. Growing up, I was very not hear from me. The good thing about doing a play, aware of the movie, but I purposely haven’t watched it though, is that anyone who wants to see me will have to since I knew the show was a possibility. However, Rich- come see the show, or they won’t see me at all.”
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