The 'Game of Thrones' star admits her career ambitions didn't go down well with her family, and her dad warned her she'd be more likely to end up behind the counter of a fast food restaurant than starring on the big or small screen.

She said: "When I told my dad I wanted to be an actress, he replied that there was only one line I needed to learn, 'Do you want fries with that?' "

The 28-year-old beauty has proven her father wrong but refused to let him watch her early episodes in 'Game of Thrones' - in which she plays Mother of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen - because of its raunchy and violent themes.

She told the new issue of Britain's Vogue magazine: "When I first read the scripts, I was on holiday with my family. I told my dad, you're not going to be able to watch the first five episodes."

During a break from filming the fantasy drama, Emilia took on a role in 'Terminator Genisys' but she was thrilled to return to the TV show afterwards because it makes her feel "safe".

She said: "I went back to Game of Thrones and it was like coming home.

"Just the smell of the hotel in Belfast made me feel safe. I told myself, forget the big game plan; all I want is to do jobs that make me happy."