Emilia Clarke reveals what it was like to eat 28 stallion hearts on Game of Thrones set

As a talented thespian dedicated to her craft, Emilia Clarke knows all about going the extra mile to deliver a flawless performance. The Game Of Thrones actress, who plays Daenerys Targaryen on the HBO series, has revealed that she still shudders when she thinks of the time she ate a fake horse heart, which tasted like "bleach and raw pasta".

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the 30-year-old actress recalled the "truly disgusting" moment she devoured the meat substitute made from solidified jam for a particularly gruesome scene. In season one, a pregnant Daenerys was required to eat a stallion's heart as part of an ancient Dothraki tradition.

Lucky for her, she didn't even need to focus on acting for the particular scene, because the revulsion she felt was very real.

"It was very helpful to be given something so truly disgusting to eat, so there wasn't much acting required," she said.

"I ate roughly 28 hearts throughout the days we filmed that scene. Fortunately, they gave me a spit bucket because I was vomiting in it quite often."

Clarke, who previously admitted that her early days on the show left her constantly questioning herself and her decisions, went on to state that she has no regrets because she is living her dream.

"It's what I wanted to do since I was just three," she said. "My father worked as a sound engineer at the theatre and often took me to the performances. I saw the musical 'Show Boat' and from that moment on I knew [acting] was for me."

Clarke has reprised her role as the Queen of Dragons as the popular show enters its penultimate seventh season. The last time fans saw her alter ego, she was had set sail for Westeros, to claim the Iron Throne.

The new season of Game Of Thrones returns to Sky Atlantic at 9pm on Monday 17 July.