Sophie Turner Admits Constant Criticism From Game Of Thrones Fans Took A Serious Mental Toll

Actress Sophie Turner opened up about her long-standing mental health issues on a recent episode of Dr. Phil's podcast Phil in the Blanks, where she shared some surprising news.


The Game of Thrones star admitted that around the time she turned 17, she was hit with depression. This would have been around four years immediately after starting to film the epic fantasy series, and it also stemmed from the repeated negative comments about her character, Sansa Stark.


“It’s weird," she mentioned. "I mention I wasn’t very depressed If I was younger, yet I used to think about suicide a lot Once I was younger. I don’t know why though,” she mentioned. “Maybe it’s just a weird fascination I used to have, although yeah, I used to imagine it. I don’t think I ever would have gone through with it. I don’t know.”


Turner explained that the constant barrage of negativity about her looks, the character she portrayed, and other criticism lead her to that way of thinking.


“People used to mention, ‘Damn, Sansa gained 10 pounds’ or ‘Damn, Sansa needs to lose 10 pounds' or ‘Sansa got fat.’ It was just a lot of weight comments, or I would have spotty skin, because I was a teenager, and that’s typical, and I used to get a lot of comments about my skin and my weight and why I wasn’t a good actress,” she explained.


“I would just believe it. I would mention, ‘Yeah, I am spotty. I am fat. I am a bad actress.’ I would just believe it. I would get [the costume department] to tighten my corset a lot. I just got very, very self-conscious.”


The mounting negativity crescendoed to a climax any time Turner realized she no longer wished to leave the home, spend time with her companions, or do much of anything at all while dealing with the seemingly never-ending barrage of comments from supposed "fans" of the series.


“I just would cry and cry and cry over just getting changed and putting on clothes and be like, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t go outdoor. I have nothing that I'd like to do."


Eventually, Turner sought therapy, and things started to improve. She hesitated to divulge the scenario to her parents at first up until they started noticing various costs for the visits, and then determined to let them in on her struggle. Yet, Turner states she's suffered with her depression for "five or six years," and while she's in a much better place right now, with fiancé Joe Jonas at her side plus an accommodating network of companions and family member, she is aware how she got there: therapy, medication, and learning to love herself.


"I'm on medication and I love myself right now, or more than I used to, I think," she shared. And right now that Game of Thrones has finished filming, she'll be taking a break from acting for a while concentrate on her mental health. We wish her the very best – right after bringing us one of the most intricate characters on Game of Thrones for eight seasons, we'd mention she's absolutely deserved some time off, and hope she can relax, recharge, and come back to acting any time she's ready.


If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).