There was a time when Eliza Taylor almost wasn't Clarke Griffin on the CW Network's The 100, and we can't imagine her NOT being her. Eliza immortalized Clarke in each of her variants and paved the way for proper bisexual representation on television. She was destined to be Clarke; we fans couldn't have anyone better.
As for that other role, it was for another high-profile character who lived during the pre-Dark Ages and was featured on a show broadcast on a much more extensive network. Although it would've meant a higher paycheck and recognition, Eliza felt the part wasn't right for her.
Yet, had she accepted it, the world of The 100 would be a completely different feel and place.
Eliza Taylor was nearly Khaleesi in Game of Thrones
Earlier in her acting career, in 2010, Eliza was handed the script for the role of Daenerys Targaryen, also known as Khaleesi, in the HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones. She auditioned for it but felt like the part wasn't for her. Often, actors and actresses choose what projects they want to work with, and in Eliza's case, the words on the page made the call.
When speaking with the Big Down Under Podcast by TMZ and hosted by Charlie Cotton in the March 6th episode, Eliza highlighted her experience when prepping for the role Daenerys/Khaleesi and why she turned it down.
“Yeah. I auditioned for Khaleesi in Game of Thrones, and I got quite close to [getting it]. I got a call back, and I got down to the final whatever, 10 [people] or something, and I thought the script was bad. I didn't like it, and I said, I just don't think I want to go any further with this. Can you believe that?”
Cotton then asked Eliza if she emotionally regretted not wanting to be part of the Game of Thrones universe and the role that brought the show fame. Emilia Clarke eventually won the role of Khaleesi, which pooled in four Primetime Emmy nominations for the British actress.
“No, I just, you know, it doesn't bother me too much. I just go, I think it's more funny than anything. Like, how hilarious that I was, like, this isn't very good. It's about dragons, and I'm playing the mother of dragons. Like, come on, come on. What is this?”
In the same podcast, Eliza revealed that she didn't even audition for the role of Clarke, but the CW wasn't impressed by the other candidates. The network's casting agent reviewed the tapes she submitted that were meant for other shows, and the rest is history. For nearly eight years, we were gifted by Eliza's incredible performance of Clarke, and we still are to this day, thanks to the series streaming on Netflix.