Game of Thrones' original mother of dragons explains why she quit after the pilot

Before Emilia Clarke signed on to play Game of Thrones heroine Daenerys, HBO hired a different actor, Tamzin Merchant, to play the role in the pilot. Merchant didn't say much about the role of the Dragon Mother, but now that the dust has settled, she's speaking out.

In an interview, she said that she had no love for the pilot of Game of Thrones from the beginning. As fans may know, the pilot of the show was a disaster. She told the publication that filming the pilot was "a real big lesson" because she learned to pay more attention to her instincts.

“It was a real affirmation to listen and follow my instincts because I tried to avoid that and I did during my contract,” she said. “I had some very persuasive people talking to me. And then I found myself in Morocco, naked and shaking, riding a horse that was much more excited than I was at the time.”

The scene she was talking about was a nude scene with the horse king Khal Drogo on Daenerys' wedding night. The scene was not done well and the scene was forced to call a cut because a horse in the shot had an erection...

Merchant said: "It's a lesson that if my instinct tells me that if a story doesn't excite me to tell it, I shouldn't try to excite myself just because someone else says I would. I haven't received any actor training, I just have my instincts. What really excites me and drives me forward is a convincing story and a convincing character. So for me, "Game of Thrones" was not that. I think it's also a testament to Emilia Clarke that she can create such a classic role. She obviously wants to tell this story more, and her performance is extremely outstanding. But for me, this story does not touch my heart."

Ultimately, Merchant said she was happy to be out of the contract because being forced to play a role she didn't believe in would have had a negative impact on her life and career.

"If I hadn't been freed from that contract, I wouldn't be the creative person I am today. Also, if I had the money and fame, I wouldn't have the time to fulfill my soul's needs. Expressing myself creatively is far more important than any financial gain I could have gotten from that show."

Game of Thrones' ill-fated pilot, shot in 2009, was a disaster, but it has also gone on to have a legendary journey from a bad start to one of the most popular TV shows of all time.