Actor Emilia Clarke and her mother, Jenny Clarke, recently received the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) at Windsor Castle. The award recognized their charitable work through SameYou. They founded the organization in 2019 to support people recovering from brain injuries and strokes.
Emilia’s personal experience inspired the creation of SameYou. She suffered two serious brain aneurysms in 2011 and 2013. At the time, she was filming the popular television series Game of Thrones. Although she survived both emergencies, the recovery process was difficult. It exposed her to the challenges many brain injury patients face. She noticed that rehabilitation services often lacked staff and resources. Because of this, Emilia and her mother decided to raise awareness and funding for people in similar situations.
During the ceremony, Prince William personally presented the honors to Emilia and Jenny. Emilia also revealed that her mother had experienced a brain bleed. She later underwent surgery. Emilia explained that the award meant a great deal to her family. She also emphasized its importance for everyone affected by brain injuries. She considers herself fortunate to have survived such serious health conditions. At the same time, she recognizes that many people are not as lucky.
In 2019, Emilia shared her health struggles in a personal essay. She revealed that after her first aneurysm, she temporarily lost the ability to speak. She also struggled to remember her own name. Later interviews provided more details about her recovery. Doctors describe her recovery as highly unusual. Although parts of her brain suffered permanent damage, she continues to live a normal life. She has also maintained a successful career. Instead of focusing on what she lost, Clarke chooses to appreciate her resilience. Her experiences motivate her advocacy work. They also strengthen her commitment to helping others affected by brain injuries.