Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke has broken a long-held silence to reveal she survived a life-threatening stroke. The actress suffered a potentially fatal brain haemorrhage in 2010 before being having major surgery that left her unable to recall her own name.

Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen in the fantasy TV series, lived with a time-bomb aneurysm in her skull for three years before again suffering a bleed in her brain.

Doctors immediately operated by opening up her skull.

Clarke has launched SameYou, a charity aimed at supported young people with brain injuries, and help them to access resources.

She said she wants to break her silence over her near-fatal brain injuries to help others who are suffering from the "invisible illness".