Game of Thrones and Dark Phoenix actress Sophie Turner has credited her new hubby Joe Jonas with helping her to break free of her mental health struggles.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, the 23-year-old actress said she was “going through this phase of being very mentally unwell” when she met 29-year-old Joe Jonas.
Jonas is known for being one-third of the Jonas Brothers and lead singer of the band DNCE. Turner, who plays Sansa Stark on the HBO series, spoke out about how hard it was to grow up in front of the world.
“Having your adolescence being displayed in public, that’s something I really wish hadn’t happened,” Turner said.
"Being in the age of social media when that’s happening, I think I would be a much saner person if I hadn’t been documented from 13- your most awkward, uncomfortable, unsure-of-yourself years.”
Over the entire decade of filming, Turner claims her body changed and she was subjected to cruel online remarks. She started "calorie counting" and missing periods, and eventually went to therapy.
“Suddenly, everyone’s metabolism slows down at 17, 18 and then that’s documented,” she told the outlet. “My skin and everything. People commenting on it. I was too aware of my body at a young age. And it just kind of took over my mind, it was all I would think about. Calorie counting, everything. Oh, I’ll just eat nuts today.”
The Dark Phoenix star continued to reference the dangers she was inflicting on her body, “I stopped having my period for a year- that’s when I decided to have therapy.”
When Turner was “going through this phase of being very mentally unwell,” she net Jonas at the age of 20, and he changed her life forever by encouraging her to love herself as much as she loved him.
“He was, like, ‘I can’t be with you until you love yourself, I can’t see you love me more than you love yourself.’ That was something, him doing that,” she continued. “I think he kind of saved my life, in a way.”
The couple also broke up for 24 hours, which the actress recalled as "the worst day of our lives" to the Times. “For a second we both had cold feet, then 24 hours later we were both, like, ‘Never mind.’"
The GOT actress opened up about her struggles with mental health on Dr Phil McGraw's show, speaking out about her history of depression, and also got candid in a Marie Claire Australia interview last June.
“My metabolism suddenly decided to fall to the depths of the ocean and I started to get spotty and gain weight, and all of this was happening to me on camera,” Turner said.
“Everyone needs a therapist, especially when people are constantly telling you you’re not good enough and you don’t look good enough. I think it’s necessary to have someone to talk to, and to help you through that.”
Turner wed Jonas in a Las Vegas ceremony earlier in May after the Billboard Music Awards. Previously, she spoke about the comments she received about her weight while playing Sansa Stark as a teenager.
“You see 10 great comments and you ignore them, but one negative comment and it just like, throws you off. It was just a lot of weight comments. Or I would have spotty skin because I was a teenager and that’s normal, but I used to get a lot of comments about my skin and my weight and how I wasn’t a good actress.”
Jonas helped her realise that being in a relationship with someone functions better when you can love yourself as much as them.
“I feel much better. I’ve been doing therapy at CAST centres, actually. I’m on medication,” she said. “I love myself now, or more than I used to, I think. I don’t think I loved myself at all. But I’m now with someone that makes me realise that I do have some redeeming qualities, I suppose."
"When someone tells you they love you every day, it makes you really think about why that is and I think it makes you love yourself a bit more. So yeah, I love myself.” YES GURL.
Don't 'Dracarys' our asses if you read anything you shouldn't have…That's our final warning.
Now, without further ado, we are in mourning. Mainly because of how absurd that Game of Thrones finale was, but we had to sob when Drogon tried to wake his dragon mama and flew away with her body.
not gonna lie drogon trying to wake dany up ripped my heart right out of my chest pic.twitter.com/qtTNvkPoN9
Honestly, that broke us. What also broke us was how weak the storyline ended, and how pointless Jon Snow's parentage was and Bran's warg skills were. We pretty much just sat there shouting, "WHY?!" every five seconds.
We searched the net to find the most hilarious reactions to the HBO classic show's ending, and there are some absolute crackers, sit back and enjoy while wearing black and signing the petition to have it remade…
1. Arya's faceless men skills will really come in handy when she starts her long career as a landlord…
So Arya became a stone cold killer just to eventually start a bunch of Air BnBs west of Westeros. #DemThrones
Drogon received best character development in this finale—exercising judgement when experiencing blinding anger and grief, destroying the symbol of power and the very source of evil, and choosing to mourn in solitude, now brotherless and motherless. #GameofThronespic.twitter.com/ycjM77PvpX
16. HODOR and MEERA REED are the reason Bran is alive and nobody cares??!
tyrion was praising bran for surviving beyond the wall when meera reed was the actual reason he made it alive. and this girl not only never got a proper sincere "thank you" but also was never even mentioned again and we don't know if she survived, eye
Tyrion: Jon Snow should be the rightful ruler. He deserves to be King. He's the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. He knows how to lead. He's the chosen one. The people love him. Convinces Jon to kill Dany.
Time to choose a King.
Tyrion: Bran#GameOfThronespic.twitter.com/vEQ2ENsule
We really don't know how to feel at this moment in time…mostly p*ssed at how the show-runners misused the character arcs and plot-lines going back nine years but at least we can laugh about it?
It's incredibly difficult to believe that on Sunday night at 2am, the last EVER episode of Game of Thrones will air on Sky Atlantic.
The hugely successful HBO show has broken barriers of television, despite mixed reviews of season eight, and its fan-base is hopelessly devoted to GOT's amazing characters.
We've got plenty of questions to ask ahead of the grand finale that have yet to be answered, and we're not certain that the show can resolve every plot in just 90 minutes.
Time will tell, but after last weeks' mad destruction of King's Landing by Dark Dany (we're devastated for Emilia Clarke), the teaser for next week's final is looking incredibly bleak indeed.
The Mad Queen's reign as arrived, but will it be ended before it truly begins? And by whom?
I mean, Olenna Tyrell did tell her to be a dragon. She just did what she was told…okay?! Some of us clearly haven't come to terms with Dany's downfall yet. We're in Dany Denial over here.
Here's a comprehensive list of all our questions, before our hearts get ripped out this Sunday. Get the tissues out.
1. Why the hell did Danaerys chargrill King's Landing after they surrendered?
Interestingly, the show didn't give visuals of Danaerys' face during the total destruction and murder of innocent people in the city; all we saw was her tear-stained, furious face just before she made the decision which will inevitably change her life.
Most people surmise that Dany pulled the trigger on her logic because she realised that even though the people had surrendered, they would never love her. They would always want to follow Jon, and a man, as Varys pointed out.
Her tragic villain origin story was definitely turned dark way too suddenly, and didn't do her character justice.
She always had a ruthless streak, but who wouldn't after being sold as a mule by your gropey brother, raped, experienced the death of your baby and husband, leading to the inability to have children, imprisoned, laughed at, ridiculed, losing two of her dragons (AKA her babies), her long-time advisor Jorah and her BFF Missandei.
She also must have had the knowledge that her claim to the throne was totally lost, and her lover Jon betrayed her, as well as Tyrion and Varys. She knew that she had to rule with fear, and if the people found out that Jon is the true heir, they'd be too afraid to challenge her.
We're not surprised that she went to the dark side, we've seen her roast her enemies alive on numerous occasions but there was always a reason behind it.
2. Is Arya going to kill Dany?
It's important not to forget the prophecy told to Arya by Melisandre when the pair first met in season three;
“I see a darkness in you. And in that darkness, eyes staring back at me: brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes. Eyes you’ll shut forever.”
The Red Witch later gave Arya that all-important pep talk which led her to kill the Night King (blue eyes), but now fans are speculating that it was never Cersei's green eyes that Arya was meant to shut. It was Dany's.
Viewers are convinced that the mini assassin's destiny has changed since 'The Bells', and the white horse at the end symbolises death. Essentially, the trailer for next week shows Arya watching Danerys take her lead, and it's looking like a sure thing that Dany's days are numbered.
At the start of episode four, Varys told Danaerys that Yara had retaken the Iron islands, yet she didn't show up at King's Landing for the big battle.
Will she turn up next week? She has had that many scenes over the last while in the show, but we were so excited to see her kill Euron Greyjoy. It would have been far more poetic and just an end than Jamie killing him.
We really hope this isn't the last we've seen of Yara; she's got some of the best lines in the script and is a total badass.
4. Will Dany find out that Jamie escaped, and because of Tyrion?
Jamie is RIP underneath all of that rubble, dying with his arms wrapped around Cersei, the woman he's always loved.
We're sure their deaths will be discovered eventually, but will it be found out that Tyrion let Jamie go to try and save the city? Ser Davos Seaworth would also be in trouble, and he's one of Jon's closest advisors. Killing him would put Jon in a rough position.
With vengeance firmly on the Mad Queen's mind, and her hatred of betrayal, we're fairly sure Tyrion would be BBQ'd by Drogon if she found out.
5. Will Jon's claim to the throne be investigated, if Varys' letter got out before he died?
At the moment, a LOT of people know Jon has the true claim; Sansa, Arya, Sam, Bran, Tyrion, Dany at a minimum. Who was Varys addressing his letter at the beginning of 'The Bells' to, we wonder?
He also tried to poison Dany, in case you missed that nugget at the beginning, which is wild. Sam and Bran appear to have the most information on the claim, which came about as Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark were married in secret and bore a child together.
Ned Stark took care of the child so that Robert Baratheon didn't murder him in one of the great wars, and Jon (Aegon Targaryen) grew up thinking he was a bastard his entire life. When this information gets around, what will the realm do?
6. Who are the new lords and ladies of the lands? Is Tyrion finally the Lord of Casterly Rock
Tyrion's dickhead of a dad Tywin Lannister refused Tyrion his birthright of one day becoming Lord of Casterly Rock, but after Cersei and Jamie died, he's the only living Lannister.
Danaerys (if she lives) would rule the Crownlands, the 'new prince' would rule Dorne, Yara Greyjoy has the Iron Islands, the Starks (Sansa) have the North, Gendry Baratheon has the Stormlands, Robin Arryn has the Vale, Tyrion would have the Westerlands but Highgarden and the Riverlands are unknown.
7. If Drogon dies, and magic officially dies out, what will happen then?
We were absolutely devastated when Rhaegal and Viserion were killed; Rhaegal by Euron Greyjoy in a surprise attack and Viserion by the White Walkers.
Seeing Viserion transformed into a wight demon and blowing blue flames was intense, and we truly felt Dany's pain at losing two of her children. If Drogon dies, who knows if dragons will ever live in the realm again?
Mrs Targaryen shares a type of telepathic communication with her babies, but it's looking more and more likely that Drogon will die alongside Dany in the finale. If Dany dies and Drogon lives, he would fly away, but if Drogon dies, Dany is powerless.
Just like the white walkers, it seems dragons will have to go extinct for this war to end.
8. What will the series finale be called?
The show-runners (DB Weiss and David Benioff) have kept the names of each episode this season a secret until after they've already aired, which is shady. Will the finale be called A Song of Ice and Fire, AKA the name of the Book Series?
9. Will the Iron Throne still exist by the end?
We saw the Mother of Dragons blow King's Landing to rubble, so is the throne even left standing after all of that turmoil? It could be buried beneath the rubble, but the whole seat of power could be erased.
Daenarys once said she wants to "break the wheel," and destroying the throne could be step one of the process.
This theory has genuinely scared us. At the end of 'The Bells', we saw Arya running terrified around the city, with various rocks and buildings falling on her and flames getting caught around her, and she went unconscious.
Some fans believe that she died in the city after all, and the white horse at the end symbolised her own death. This explains why the ending seemed so strange and spiritual, but then again she's seen in the trailer for next week.
The show does seem to have a knack for bringing people back to life, so there's that idea too.
11. Where is Brienne? And will Bronn end up killing Tyrion Lannister?
Our gal loves a good battle, so why did she stay behind? We're furious that they turned her into a weeping woman after Jamie left, they should have left that at a respectful friendship. As for Bronn, perhaps he'll wipe out the last member of the Lannister family?
12. What will happen to the Night's Watch?
Seeing as all of those pesky White Walkers are dead and dusted, thanks to Arya, and the wall is wrecked (bold Viserion) will there be a need for a Night's Watch any more?
13. What will be Bran's role in all of this?
Ah Bran. There have been countless theories about the three-eyed raven's role since the very beginning, even some fans guessing that he'll be the new Night King.
Seeing as Bran can time travel, it's thought that he could represent all of the Brandon Starks in history, from old Nan's tales. That means the Brandon Stark that built the wall.
Bran may warg back in time, and try to stop the White Walkers from being created, but accidentally get stuck there with the Children of the Forest.
He then may have travelled in time to have the wall built, and have Arya kill the Night King with the dagger that was used to try and kill him when he was only a boy.
Both Bran's vision and Danaerys' prophecy came true in 'The Bells'; Back in season six, Bran saw flashes of the Night King's death as well as the Mad King Aerys screaming, "Burn them all!".
He was referring to his daughter, who ended up fulfilling his mad wish. Shots of a dragon flying over King's Landing can be seen, echoing Dany's dark destruction of the city last week.
Dany's vision in the House of the Undying saw snow in the Red Keep, but actually it was ash from her dragon's burning of the city. We wish they had adequately portrayed Dany's downfall over the last two season.
The foreshadowing is mind-blowing, but will Bran have more to offer? He could be the key to unravelling the future of the realm, and whether magic lives on.
14. Finally, will Ghost get a hug from Jon before the show ends?
We're guessing not. If Jon gets the Iron Throne, he'd be the perfect hand to the king (or would it be paw to the king?).
This post contains spoilers regarding episode four of Game of Thrones, season eight.
The latest episode of the beloved HBO show has angered fans and celebrities alike, due to the racial insensitivity and disrespectful use of sexual violence as a storyline.
Sansa Stark experienced a hugely controversial plot point in season five; the horrific rape at the hands of Ramsay Bolton. In episode four, the Hound has a conversation with the new Lady of Winterfell and uses some gross language.
"I heard you were broken in. Broken in rough," he says, while sitting in HER HOUSE. Sansa replies by saying, "Without Littlefinger and Ramsay and the rest, I would have stayed a little bird all my life", she says.
Sansa explains to the Hound, who harassed her as Joffrey's former minion, that she is no longer afraid of him as she’s seen "much worse" since.
The Hound tells Sansa that none of the bad things, i.e. Ramsay Bolton and Littlefinger, would have happened to her if she had left King's Landing with him.
The problematic language grates on many fans, as the word 'rape' is never uttered and the Hound essentially blames Sansa here for her own assault. She was a child when she met the Hound, why would she leave anywhere with him?
Rape is not a tool to make a character stronger. A woman doesn’t need to be victimized in order to become a butterfly. The #littlebird was always a Phoenix. Her prevailing strength is solely because of her. And her alone.#GameOfThronespic.twitter.com/TVIyt8LYxI
Jessica Chastain, who co-stars with Turner in the upcoming Dark Phoenix film, has joined the chorus of critics. Chastain is a staunch supporter of the Times Up movement for equal pay and representation in Hollywood, and #MeToo is close to her heart.
The actor tweeted her displeasure at the show’s choice to use assault as a narrative device;
“Rape is not a tool to make a character stronger,” she wrote. “A woman doesn’t need to be victimized in order to become a butterfly. The little bird was always a Phoenix. Her prevailing strength is solely because of her. And her alone.” YAS QUEEN.
Thank the Lord, Sansa escaped Ramsay alongside Reek/Theon Greyjoy and later gave him the gruesome death he deserved. I'm sure we all remember the hounds scene? Revenge is served COLD by the Starks.
After the backlash surrounding the rape scene in season five in 2016, writer-producer Bryan Cogman explained that the decision for Sansa to be raped on her wedding night by Ramsay Bolton was the only realistic narrative option. Rude?
He continued, "Yes, it would have been hugely satisfying for Sansa to have a shiv up her sleeve and gut Ramsay, but that’s not Sansa. We can’t all be Arya, most people in that situation, they have to play a longer game."
That entire interview seems like a massive cop-out to us. The show clearly still has zero grasp of how to discuss sexual assault, as the Hound so callously proved.
Sonia Saraiya, an experienced Vanity Fair critic has elaborated on why the scene didn’t work for her. She explains that Sansa’s reaction to the Hound’s comment rang false for the character.
“She just sits there and takes it,” she writes. “It feels like a repudiation of both of their character arcs- and, as I have said again and again this season, a missed opportunity for growth and connection.”
Sansa has yet to have her hero moment and regain revenge, but we're guessing it may be her who gets to put the final nail in Cersei's coffin? Just a theory.
The show also received criticism for its treatment of people-of-colour, specifically regarding Missandei's death. Ava DuVernay, the iconic black female filmmaker, called the show out on Twitter for it's brutal killing of their sole woman-of-colour.
The lack of diversity is pretty noticeable, and the series rarely involves female directors.
By the time it ends, #GameofThrones will have aired 73 episodes. 2.7% directed by women (2 eps, both had same director). 4 episodes in which a woman had full or partial writing credit (5.5%). 2 women writers ever. Last time a woman credited as a #GoT writer was 2013.
Just five percent of the 73 total episodes were directed by women, and it comes across in the show's writing habits.
Namely on sexuality and assault as plot tools; it's rare that the female characters escape rape. DB Weiss and David Benioff, Y'all need to step up thy game in future, or you'll lose female viewers.
Don't shut out female writers, we have a lot to offer and deserve a seat at the table.
Diplo gave the game away officially when he began posting footage from the improptu ceremony. In the DJ's Instagram Stories, the 23-year-old, who plays Sansa on GOT, is seen walking down the aisle.
She's got the full bridal ensemble on, and this longtime couple's nuptials seems VERY different to her HBO character's traumatic Game of Thrones weddings. Thank God.
It looks like an Elvis Presley impersonator is officiating the ceremony and country music pair Dan + Shay performed their hit, Speechless.
The husband and wife are now the final Jonas Brother couple to wed, after announcing their engagement in October 2017 following a year of dating.
The couple swapped ring pops instead of wedding bands, and this may just overshadow the GOT hype for this week.
Earlier that night, Nick, Kevin and Joe banded together for an epic performance of new single Sucker, and Sophie's sisters-in-law Priyanka Chopra and Danielle Jonas joined each other in the front row of the MGM Grand Arena.
During an interview with Marie Claire last year, Sophie spoke excitedly about her engagement to Joe, who has been supportive of her during her mental health journey;
"I'm still like, Holy sh*t! I'm engaged. There's this weird misconception that being married is the greatest thing that'll ever happen to you.
"But I've always found that my career is something I work for, and when I achieve something, there's a sense that this is the greatest thing I'll do in my life," she continued.
"It's lovely to be engaged. Not like I achieved anything, but I found my person, like I'd find a house that I love and want to stay in forever.
"There's a sense of peace that comes with finding your person. But there's a drive that comes with your career."
We're guessing the pair will throw a more official bash and wedding ceremony in the near future, because the bride's BFF and bridesmaid Maisie Williams wasn't at the gathering last night.
HBO has finally announced the exact release date for the final season of Game of Thrones.
Following more than a YEAR of speculation (they just love to keep us waiting, don't they?), the company revealed that the Emmy-award winning fantasy show will air on April 14 2019.
A trailer named Crypts of Winterfell was released, featuring Jon Snow, Sansa Stark and Arya Stark, and we're GASPING.
The countdown to the final six episodes of the cable network's biggest show EVER begins now.
Teasing the last few episodes of the hit show, co-executive producer Bryan Cogman said: “It’s about all of these disparate characters coming together to face a common enemy, dealing with their own past, and defining the person they want to be in the face of certain death.”
The most incredible battle in the show's history will feature in the dramatic season, and we're SHOOKETH with anticipation.
Death is pretty much a given when it comes to Game of Thrones; whether it's the Red Wedding (RIP my heart), the Battle of the Bastards or just any kind of royal gathering, you're guaranteed to see bloodshed.
That being said, the upcoming and much-anticipated final season of the show will be pivotal when it comes to character killing, because the last one standing LITERALLY wins Game of Thrones.
*deep breathes* We're going to need a stiff drink to handle the tension and grieving which series eight will inevitably bring…
A new study published in theInjury Epidemiologyjournal tries to decipher the likelihood of characters meeting their bloody end, and has recorded data on 330 Game of Thrones personalities.
The data takes circumstances such as religious beliefs and social status into account based off each episode of the HBO smash hit show.
'What influences the chances of a character death?' we hear you ask. Author of the study, Reidar Lysad (he sounds like a character himself…) has said;
"The risk of death is high among characters in Game of Thrones.
By the end of the seventh season, more than half of the characters had died – 186 out of the 330 characters we included in this study – with violent deaths being the most common by far.!
Apparently, switching allegiance makes you a lot more likely to survive in the show, but sticking to your morals and principles increases the chance that you'll reach the end.
Probably because it's always the sneaky snakes who can con their way into staying alive…
Women and 'highborns' are also more likely to continue with their lives, rather than poor, male characters.
Which means… Queen of Westeros and General Nutjob Cersei Lannister might end up being the last gal standing. *gasps* but her prophecy??
Jaime Lannister, Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister all have higher chances of survival because of their tendency to switch sides, and their high status.
One in seven characters actually died within the first hour of their introduction, and the fastest end to a character was just 11 SECONDS. Good God, no one is safe.
The regular character is alive for roughly 29 hours, and only two deaths were from natural causes.
In Westeros, anything goes. They could all die, TBF, and the throne will be left icy and barren.
The outcome of the show is always unpredictable, and aims to be different than the expected.
As the saying goes; “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die”.
Game of Thrones fans you can rest a little bit easier with this news.
Contrary to the rumours that began circulating not too long ago, fan-favourite (dare we say it: possible Queen in the North) Sophie Turner is not going anywhere.
The actress, who plays Sansa Stark was reportedly being poached from the HBO series to star in Outlander.
The time-travel fantasy romance is a huge hit with fans across the pond and many were speculating she would abandon Westeros in favour of series adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s books.
EW caught up with the actress to settle the rumours once and for all, and many avid TV fans were getting nervous at her silence on the matter.
“Somebody mentioned [the role] to me when I was on a red carpet somewhere, that I’d make a great Brianna, and I think the guy Sam retweeted it or something,” she explained.
“So people started talking like I was in it. I’ve never seen the show. I’m sure it’s great, but I’m loyal to my one true love!”
Phew!
Contractually, series regular actors (such as Sophie) are simply not allowed to take a job that could possibly undermine the series to which they are already attached. So it would have been a slim possibility of Sophie leaving GoT.
However, as everyone who loves the series knows, the powers that be at HBO like to keep fans on edge when it comes to which characters will be coming back- ahem, looking at you Jon Snow.
Meanwhile, there has been one GoT actor lined up for a role on Outlander.
Clive Russell will be joining the cast for the second series according to the Outlander Facebook page. He appeared on Season 3 of GoT as Brynden ‘The Blackfish’ Tully. Interestingly, his GoT character is actually related to a current Outlander series regular.
Tobias Menzies (Edmure Tully, also suspiciously absent since Season 3) currently stars in the series and it looks like two will be sharing the screen again.
