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| Sophie Turner in Season 4 of “Game of Thrones.”HBO |
Sophie Turner Opens Up: What She Learned from Game of Thrones, Her Divorce, and the Journey Forward
Sophie Turner has lived many lives—some in front of the camera, others in the headlines. But one thing is certain: whether she’s ruling the North as Sansa Stark or navigating personal upheaval in the public eye, Turner’s grace, growth, and grit remain undeniable.
In a recent episode of the Dish podcast, the 29-year-old actress pulled back the curtain on her transformative experience growing up on HBO’s Game of Thrones, and how those formative years still shape her today.
“I definitely got my sex education from that show,” Turner joked. “More than enough.”
While she said it with a laugh, there’s no doubt that the early exposure to mature themes and intense scripts left a lasting mark. At just 14, Turner stepped onto the set of a global television phenomenon—and in the process, stepped into adulthood faster than most teens ever imagine.
Growing Up on Set
Turner spent nearly a decade on Game of Thrones, portraying one of the series’ most compelling and emotionally complex characters. “It was the best acting class I’ve ever had,” she shared. With no formal acting training, the show became her workshop, her family, and her home.
“I never had proper formal training, so I got to learn from the amazing actors around me. I felt like I won a competition.”
Sansa Stark wasn’t just a role—it became part of Sophie’s identity. The actress admitted that by the end of the series, the character and her real-life self had begun to blur.
“We kind of merged into one person by the end of it. It was amazing.”
Lessons Beyond Acting
While the acting experience was invaluable, Turner says Game of Thrones also schooled her in the business side of Hollywood.
“It informed my entire life in terms of business decisions, just etiquette on set, how to act. Everything I learned from Game of Thrones, and a bit from my parents.”
Despite the prestige, Turner admitted she avoids watching her own performances. “It’s horrible watching yourself,” she said. “I go into like a two-month bout of depression after, so I just don’t do it.”
Will Sansa Ever Return?
Fans continue to speculate whether Sansa Stark could ever make a comeback, especially with House of the Dragon now entering its third season. Turner, however, remains hesitant.
“It would have to be the exact same cast and the exact same crew,” she told Variety. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t go back.”
While she dismissed the idea of a Game of Thrones season nine, Turner admitted she often wonders what Sansa would be doing now—five years later, ruling the North or facing new battles.
Life After Westeros: Marriage, Divorce & Co-Parenting
After Game of Thrones ended in 2019, Turner entered a new chapter: marriage to singer Joe Jonas. The two wed that same year and became parents to daughters Willa, 4, and Delphine, 2.
But in 2023, the fairy tale took a turn. Jonas filed for divorce in September, initiating a contentious custody battle. Turner accused him of withholding their daughters' passports, preventing her from bringing them back to their “forever home” in the U.K.
By October 2023, the two had reached a temporary custody agreement. “We have agreed that the children will spend time equally in loving homes in both the U.S. and the U.K.,” they said in a joint statement.
Surprisingly, the relationship between the former couple has remained friendly. Turner publicly congratulated Jonas on the release of his EP Music for People Who Believe in Love in May 2024.
Jonas reciprocated the goodwill:
“Having an incredible mom, Sophie, for those girls is like a dream come true,” he said during Jay Shetty’s On Purpose live tour. “As young girls, looking up to great women is what I want for them.”
A New Love Story?
Following her split with Jonas, Turner was linked to British aristocrat Peregrine Pearson in October 2023. The two made things Instagram official by January 2024. Breakup rumors briefly surfaced in April after Turner seemingly unfollowed him, but those rumors were put to rest in June when the couple was spotted being affectionate during a date at Glastonbury.
“Sophie and Peregrine were very affectionate with each other,” a source told The Sun, noting they seemed “happy and relaxed.”
From Stark Queen to Real-Life Warrior
Sophie Turner’s life has been anything but scripted. She entered the public eye as a teenager, grew up in front of the world, and faced both fictional wars in Westeros and real-life battles in courtrooms and co-parenting arrangements.
Her journey has been messy, brilliant, and deeply human—and that's what makes her so relatable. Whether she’s opening up about sex education on set, sharing her struggles with watching herself on screen, or modeling maturity in a co-parenting dynamic, Turner continues to redefine what it means to grow up in Hollywood.
Her story isn’t over. In fact, it feels like she’s just getting started.
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