I was meant to be Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones

The actress who played Daenerys Targaryen in the unreleased pilot episode of Game Of Thrones has revealed why she was glad not to get the role in the end.

Despite the show’s success, she said she was relieved that her role in the 2009 pilot episode did not translate into the full series, after finding herself ‘naked and afraid’ during filming.

The series premiere eventually aired in 2011, with Emilia Clarke as the Mother of Dragons, and made the entire main cast became global superstars over its eight seasons.

But Tamzin Merchant left with her head held high, and has since found success with Salem and Carnival Row.

Her original pilot, written by series creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss was largely scrapped – with many elements re-shot and several roles re-cast, including Daenerys.

Head held high: The actress who played Daenerys Targaryen in the original Game Of Thrones pilot has revealed that she does not regret losing out on the role

Booted: Tamzin Merchant (left) was originally cast in the role, eventually made famous by Emilia Clarke (right), but was released from her contract along with many others who did not make the final cut in 2011

Awkward: HBO executive Michael Lombardo said: ‘We all knew Daenerys’ journey was critical. Her scenes with Jason [Momoa] (pictured) just didn’t work’

Merchant told Entertainment Weekly: ‘What excites me and what drives me is a compelling story and a compelling character. For me, Game Of Thrones was never that.’

She went into filming the episode on the back of success in both the UK and US playing Catherine Howard in The Tudors.

But her and the to-be phenomenon was just not a happy marriage, with scenes with Jason Momoa particularly disappointing.

Merchant added: ‘I found myself naked and afraid in Morocco and riding a horse that was clearly much more excited to be there than I was.’

Here she is referring to the scene after Daenerys married Momoa’s character – Khal Drogo.

While the two actors were in the middle of the 𝑠e𝑥 scene, a horse in the background was visibly aroused, forcing the scene to be reshot.

HBO executive Michael Lombardo also said: ‘We all knew Daenerys’ journey was critical. Her scenes with Jason just didn’t work.’

Other roles that were re-cast include Catelyn Stark, with Jennifer Ehle portraying the Stark matriarch in the original pilot, replaced by Michelle Fairley.

But rather than ruing being released from her contract as a missed opportunity, Merchant is glad to be able to do pursue more of what she truly wants to do.

‘If I hadn’t been released from my contract,’ she said, ‘I think it would have taken me to a place far from the creative person that I am today.’

In 2021, Merchant wrote a children’s book called The Hatmakers.

And she added that the lack of megastar status also allows her to ‘do all the things that my soul needs to do’.

‘Expressing myself creatively is a need that’s more important than any amount of riches that I could have gained from that part.’