Emilia Clarke on Me Before You: Disability storyline gives it ‘more substance than a lot of rom coms’
Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke says her latest film, Me Before You, has ‘more substance than a lot of rom coms’ due to highlighting disability.
Emilia Clarke plays Louisa Clark, who becomes a carer for rich, high flyer Will – played by Hunger Games star Sam Claflin – after an accident leaves him quadriplegic.
Clarke’s character is later horrified to discover Will wishes to end his life at an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland.
Emilia Clarke said the film has helped to raise awareness around the issue to the right to die: “It simply puts the topic on the table for discussion."
Despite the film facing some criticism from some disability rights’ groups, Clarke insisted: “We did a huge amount of research around this and it was something we took incredibly seriously – it was almost the sole topic of conversation.
“It is a movie about love, it is a love story and I think that what we do succeed in doing is putting disability on the table for discussion. People are going to go and watch this movie where, at the heart of it, is someone who is disabled.
“We had a number of experts on set with us all the time, ensuring that we were doing everything we could to be accurate for a movie.
“And that’s the hardest thing to do - unless it’s a documentary you’re never going to be as true to life as you would be if you were to take a camera and follow someone’s life.
