Russian model Liz Joestar has shared a striking cosplay photoshoot as Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones – and it’s one of those rare recreations where you genuinely forget it’s cosplay, not the real thing.
Daenerys Targaryen is arguably one of the most cosplayed TV characters ever, thanks not only to Game of Thrones’ global smash hit status but also her instantly recognizable look: platinum blonde hair, a regal posture, and that signature intense gaze of someone who believes they have a continent’s fate in their hands. Liz Joestar’s choice of a beige dress nods to Daenerys’s early days in the Free Cities of Essos, before the Iron Throne was anywhere near reach.
According to lore, Daenerys is the daughter of King Aerys II and Queen Rhaella – the last scion of the overthrown Targaryen dynasty. Born amidst a great storm on Dragonstone, her life was marked by exile in the Free Cities, dominated by her brother Viserys, who saw her more as a political pawn than a sister. This low point of helplessness kicks off one of the genre’s most compelling character arcs – or one of the most controversial, depending on how you feel about the final season.
British actress Emilia Clarke played Daenerys Targaryen across eight seasons, delivering a portrayal that felt like several different women within a single complex character. Clarke’s performance earned her four Emmy nods and cemented her as one of the world’s most recognizable actresses. Interestingly, Daenerys’s image has long transcended Clarke herself, embedding into pop culture as a standalone icon – which keeps cosplay inspired by her alive and thriving years after the show ended.
Game of Thrones wrapped in 2019, but its cultural footprint remains massive. The ongoing spin-off House of the Dragon, set two centuries before the original series, keeps interest in the Targaryen saga high – and with it, revitalizes cosplay devoted to characters from the original show. Daenerys holds a special spot since she looms silently in House of the Dragon’s narrative as the ultimate endpoint of the family’s saga.
Liz Joestar’s photoshoot isn’t just another set of pretty shots inspired by an old show. It taps into a living cultural phenomenon still resonating among fans and cosplayers worldwide.
With the renewed attention on the Targaryen lineage and the ongoing expansion of the Game of Thrones universe, expect more standout reinterpretations of iconic characters like Daenerys – ones that might even prompt a fresh look back at the original series.