The girl who played with fire

At the beginning of medieval fantasy series Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen didn't look like much of a contender for the crown.

Despite being a rightful heir to the coveted Iron Throne, she was a meek, frightened girl living in exile, controlled by her cruel brother and sold into marriage to a barbarian warlord.

But by the end of the first season of Games of Thrones, which is based on George RR Martin's best-selling novels, her brother and husband were dead and Dany had transformed into a warrior queen in her own right.

Oh, and she discovered she had the power to control dragons.

This could come in handy in season two, which is screening on Sky's SoHo channel just a week after new episodes are broadcast in the United States, with the king's death sparking the ultimate battle for the throne between the realm's various dynasties.

British actress Emilia Clarke, who plays Dany, talks about what's in store.

How is it having dragons as your co-stars?

For the camera rehearsals we had these – well, I just can't call them toys, because CGI could get really annoyed with me – basically, there were these life-size models that I got to work with in the rehearsals. They were correctly weighted and they allowed me to get an eye line so that it would look right when the dragons you see were added in CGI. I got really weirdly maternal over them, I must say, really protective. And then when we were actually filming they weren't there at all. That was good in a way because it tested my imagination.

Maternal over dragons?

Hugely. I mean, I've had a season to build up to it. In season one it's sort of what I was working on the entire way – Dany has this weird pull towards them and then in the final scene, when the dragons appear, it was just like I'd given birth. So they are very much like my children. It's all that Dany's got, there's no-one else that she can truly, 100 per cent, rely on and trust. They are kind of just an extension of her.

As they get bigger will the dragons become her weapons? Will we get to see some dragon-style ass-kicking?

Yes, definitely. And just as with the wolves throughout the rest of the show, the dragons are fiercely loyal, totally protective – they are as one.

How big do they get?

Fans who've read the books will know they get big enough to ride. It's an exciting prospect for me, but we're way away yet.

Have you read the books to find out what happens to your character?

I do read the books, but I only read up to where I can manage with what we're about to start filming, so I can't get too ahead of myself. I'm up to number four. Especially with Dany, every season she goes on another massive new arc, so I just couldn't go too far ahead. Otherwise I'd forget where I was.

Is there any parallel between Dany's path and your own?

Completely. One hundred per cent. It's alarming how much we echo one another. I mean not literally: I don't have any dragons. But we were both naive, young individuals in the beginning of this whole experience and I feel like I've grown with her and learnt with her. It's nice in that sense; you kind of feel like you're not alone. That may make me sound like a completely pretentious actor, but I can't help it. It's just completely true.

You spent a lot of season one daubed in mud. Do you get to wash this time?

Yes, that's the nice thing about season two: I'm clean for a lot of it. Although the mud is good for the complexion.

What: Game of Thrones Season 2
When: Monday, 8.30pm
Where: SoHo

- © Fairfax NZ News