Stark admission
Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner admits she used to think about suicide ‘a lot’ as she opens up on ‘Sansa got fat’ troll comments
The actress also revealed her relationship with GoT co-star Maisie Williams became 'destructive'
GAME Of Thrones star Sophie Turner admits comments about her weight took their toll on her mental health and she spent her teenage years thinking about suicide "a lot".
The 23-year-old actress, who plays Sansa Stark on the smash hit show, says jibes that "Sansa got fat" affected the way she thought about herself.
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Sophie, who started filming Game Of Thrones when she was just 13, spoke out during a new interview on Dr Phil's podcast Phil in the Blanks.
She said of the negative comments: "I would just believe it.
"I would say, '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."
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She added: "It's weird. I say I wasn't very depressed when I was younger, but I used to think about suicide a lot when I was younger. I don't know why though."
The star admits her battle with depression caused her to withdraw from society.
She said: "I had no motivation to do anything or go out.
"Even with my best friends, I wouldn't want to see them... I would cry and cry and cry.
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"Just having to change and put on clothes, I said, 'I can't do this. I can't go outside. I have nothing that I want to do'".
Sophie also revealed she started to spend more and more time with her GoT co-star Maisie Williams, but their co-dependent relationship became "destructive".
She said: "I have a friend, Maisie who was on the show with me, she's just a year younger than me and we were growing up together.
"She was my best friend, and she was the only one I really told about everything."
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"Maisie and I used to do it [stay inside] together.
"I think being friends with each other was quite destructive because we were going through the same thing.
"We would get home from set, go to a Tesco, a little supermarket, across the road and just buy food. We'd go back to our room and eat it in bed. We never socialised for a couple of years."
She credits her relationship with Joe Jonas for helping her recovery.
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She said: "I love myself now, or more than I used to. I'm now with someone that makes me realise, you know, that I do have some redeeming qualities.
"I suppose, and when someone tells you they love you every day, it makes you realise why that is, and I think it makes you love yourself a bit more.
"People shouldn't be ashamed of it.
"So many people are kind of plagued with depression or anxiety or body issues. More people than people realise. If people just opened up to their friends and family, it would be OK. All you have to do is to speak to someone, and you can get the help that you need.
"I actually am still on my break, I took a break off of work to focus on my mental health because I thought it was important."
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others.
You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220.
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