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The first time I talk to Emilia Clarke is at Pinewood Studios, where we have just begun shooting the film of my book, Me Before You. She is a tiny, gorgeous presence, fuelling her way through the long days with ever-present flasks of water with strawberries, cucumber, mint. Clarke is rigorous about staying in shape, and in a break between scenes ,we lunge and squat our way around the lot while chatting (mine are comical enough that a producer’s assistant takes pictures from behind). Emilia’s working day started some time around 5:30 a.m. As we wrap that evening, her personal trainer is waiting to do another hour with her. There may have been rehearsals for the following day’s scenes after that. Throughout all this, she will smile. By the end of the shoot, in June, most of the production team will be slightly in love with her.

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Paris. Our last day of filming. Clarke has been diagnosed with a fractured hip, following a treadmill accident that resulted in weeks of intense pain. One of our final scenes involves her reading a letter in a café, weeping, then walking across Parisian cobbles in five-inch heels. She completes each take beautifully, but every time the word ‘cut’ echoes across the Place Dauphine, her face drains of colour and the crew rush over with crutches. The pain is such, she tells me later, that it makes her want to throw up. By the end of the day, when we exchange gifts and tears, she can no longer stand, and receives hers sitting on a kerb. Hours later, she will fly off to promote the Schwarzenegger blockbuster Terminator Genisys, in which she plays the female lead. She will complete that worldwide tour on crutches, immaculately made up, the smile in place.