Emilia Clarke’s Boyfriend: Who is the Game of Thrones Star Dating?

Seth MacFarlane, James Franco, Charlie McDowell ?

During her time as Daenerys Targaryen in the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke dazzled audiences on screen. 

Moreover, she starred in numerous projects, giving mysterious and entertaining performances in films like Last Christmas (2019), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), Me Before You (2016), and Terminator Genisys (2015).

Being a Hollywood star, a lot of information has been released about her personal life. Because of this, the general public has seen numerous headlines about the star's dating history throughout the years.


It is assumed that the actress is not currently dating anyone in public and is single.

Despite this, she has maintained links with prominent figures in the field, even though some of the supposed connections were the result of unfounded rumors. 

Let's look at a few of these names and see what happened to these purported love stories in the end.

1. Emilia Clarke And Seth MacFarlane

Among the people the Game of Thrones star dated was Seth MacFarlane, the creator and star of the popular cartoon series Family Guy. Nevertheless, their marriage was short-lived. According to reports, the two started dating in 2012. 

Their romance will end the next year. A source said at the time to E! News that their romance couldn't last over long distance.

The actress was filming her critically acclaimed fantasy drama in Europe while MacFarlane was stationed in California. In a 2016 Glamour interview, 

Emilia Clarke reaffirmed the association's status and provided the following list of drawbacks when asked about dating someone well-known:

“… A con is you have strangers giving you love-life advice like, “I’m a big fan of the show, and I’m not sure what you’re doing with that guy,” which I didn’t react well to. That happened in New York when Seth and I were together. This guy started [giving me] advice: “Can I get a selfie? And by the way…” Unh-unh, bro.”

When asked about her romantic situation during the same interview, the actress said she was at ease being single.

2. Emilia Clarke And James Franco

The result of headlines speculating on a supposed romance between the two was this pairing. In 2013, Clarke and James Franco, who used to be Spider-Man, were spotted together at an art fair in New York City. 

This sighting sparked speculation about their relationship on gossip websites. Some even declared that they were engaged! Clarke told The Observer, refuting the claims that they were getting married:

“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 nothing more to their alleged relationship than frivolous conjecture and hearsay.

3. Emilia Clarke And Jai Courtney

Emilia Clarke and Jai Courtney collaborated on the 2015 film Terminator Genisys. Reports of their alleged romance took off like wildfire, with magazines asserting that the couple's courtship began on the sci-fi action movie set. 

When Courtney stated that he was single in a 2015 interview with Kyle and Jackie O of KIIS 1065 (via Daily Mail), he put an end to the rumors.


“No, I don’t [have a girlfriend]… Your research is like three months old.”

A few months before this, Clarke suggested to Marie Claire (via Metro) that she was too preoccupied with her career to engage in love.

 “I just realized that’s not how this life [will] work. It [her career] makes [romantic relationships] absolutely impossible,” she affirmed.


This put an end to yet another purported association.

4. Emilia Clarke And Cory Michael Smith

Cory Michael Smith, a May December star, and Clarke costarred in the Broadway version of Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's. In 2014, there were speculations of a developing romance between the two. 

However, in light of the dearth of reliable sources endorsing these statements, it is impossible to ascertain their veracity.

The Game of Thrones alum's close friends stressed that the co-stars were just buddies, according to Page Six. Smith and Clarke were seen holding hands and gently dancing at a Vanity Fair Oscars celebration, according to the same article. 

You can decide how to interpret that.

5. Emilia Clarke And Charlie McDowell

Cosmopolitan claims that Clarke and McDowell are thought to have started dating in 2018. The buzz surrounding the British actress and another unidentified person's affair got off when she posted an image of them on Instagram including dark silhouettes reflected on a beach.

 "Well, that was a birthday I won't be forgetting in a while," the caption said.

The same picture was allegedly published by Charlie McDowell along with the caption, "Happy Birthday, E." Clarke gave the film director credit for a beach photo she shared on her Instagram afterward. 

Many took this to mean that the couple's amorous encounter had been confirmed.

This, too, was just temporary. In 2019, it was reported that the scriptwriter had stopped following the actress on Instagram.

The same year, Lily Collins and Charlie McDowell were sighted arm in arm, which led to dating rumors about them. 

The couple’s successful love story culminated in their 2021 marriage.

6. Other Rumored “Romances”

The Game of Thrones alum was constantly associated with her co-stars Kit Harington and Jason Momoa, but these connections were merely the result of fans' hopeful speculation. 

After the two were spotted chatting at an awards ceremony, some publications even claimed that Clarke and Jared Leto were developing a romantic relationship (via Express). 

As of right moment, it appears like nothing came of the exchange. It was just more gossip site fodder, nothing special.

A few years ago, she was also connected to assistant director Tom Turner.

At least in the eyes of the public, the incredibly successful actress is unmarried right now.