At the 2026 Emmys, Emilia Clarke speaks High Valyrian with Emma D’Arcy

When Emilia Clarke and Emma D’Arcy walked out to present Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie , they didn’t just read the prompter — they staged a mini Targaryen summit. D’Arcy set the gag in motion, announcing that Clarke would speak in High Valyrian and they’d provide the translation live on NBC.

“And in honour of our shared Targaryen lineage, Emilia is going to address you in High Valyrian, our mother tongue, and I will translate.”

Clarke then delivered a full, confident paragraph in the franchise ’s ancient language. D’Arcy let it hang for a beat before offering the driest of punchlines.

“Uh, yeah, that’s good evening.”

The two leaned into the family- tree bit all night — at one point D’Arcy joked that Clarke was a very far-flung granddaughter — while cameras cut to familiar faces in the crowd. David Benioff even got a reaction shot from the audience as the Valyrian kept flowing.

They did get to the envelope. Sally Field took home the trophy for Remarkably Bright Creatures, topping a field that included:

• Claire Danes
• Carey Mulligan
• Sarah Pidgeon
• Sarah Snook

Offstage, Clarke’s perspective

Outside the bit, Clarke has lately been swatting down outsized pay rumors from her Game of Thrones days — those oft-repeated claims that the cast was pulling something like $300,000 per episode. She’s said the real upside was practical, like finally being able to pay off her parents’ mortgage, not building a garage full of sports cars.

She’s also been candid about how the show’s runaway fame initially overwhelmed her, especially after a string of Emmy losses before the finale aired. That stretch, she’s said, helped her reset what success looks like — which made this quick-hit Valyrian reunion with D’Arcy feel like a victory on her own terms.

If you missed it live, the Emmys broadcast — including the Targaryen language lesson — is now streaming on Peacock .