Sunday Times 2
Game of Thrones star dragged into Russian politics
Actress Emilia Clarke has been dragged into Russian politics after her picture was used to make a shock ‘anti-rape’ message by a Vladimir Putin mayoral candidate. The 26-year-old British star’s image appears on a campaign advert in the industrial city of Yekaterinburg backing United Russia politician Yakov Silin.
Misuse: British actress Emilia Clarke shot to fame from her role in HBO's hit series Game of Thrones (Reuters)
The sham online promotion identifies her as a local woman called Anya, 24, but the picture has been used without the permission of Game of Thrones actress. ‘Her’ message on behalf of the Putin candidate states: ‘I suddenly noticed that for the last couple of years I’m not afraid to walk at night in Yekaterinburg.
‘I now have confidence that the city is safe, that no-one will attack me or rape me. ‘It’s so cool … There are only few people on the streets, the streets have lights, the city is fresh and incredibly beautiful. Especially after it has been raining.’
The makers of the advertisement admitted that the London-born actress – with credits including Triassic Attack, Spike Island, Shackled, Dom Hemingway, The Garden of Last Days, and Rosaline – had no knowledge of her photograph being used in the election campaign.
Russian web users instantly noticed that the advertisement was a sham, and that Anya was the famous ‘English rose’ actress whose image was being used to promote a safe city message about the Urals industrial conurbation. They bombarded the site with sarcastic messages over the ploy in Russia’s fourth largest city.
One comment said: ‘If you invent Anya, don’t be so lazy and dig deeper in the photo-banks or Yandex (a Russian search engine) for some unknown actresses.’ The unnamed authors of the campaign admitted of the stunt: ‘We selected a famous and beautiful actress on purpose, to make it clear that this is a fantasy.’
The administrator added: ‘Next time we will write more clearly. Sorry.’
© Daily Mail, London
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