Sophie Turner Reflects On Filming Traumatic Games of Thrones Scenes

Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, who played Sansa Stark in all eight seasons, reflects on filming some of the HBO show’s most traumatic scenes.

Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner reflects on filming some of the series’ most traumatic scenes. George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series was adapted into a TV show 15 years after the author published the first book, A Game of Thrones. HBO’s Game of Thrones quickly started gaining praise when its first season aired, which was followed by seven more seasons. The series eventually came to a close in 2019, and despite Game of Thrones season 8 being heavily criticized, the franchise still remains a profitable venture for HBO.

Turner played Sansa Stark, daughter of Ned Stark, the Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King to Robert and Joffery Baratheon. Like most characters in Game of Thrones, Sansa was subject to many horrible experiences during its eight seasons. Sansa’s suffering began early in season 1 when her dire wolf Lady was put down. That same season, Joffrey forced Sansa to watch her father get decapitated despite him promising he would show Ned mercy. Joffrey also physically and verbally abused the poor Stark when she was kidnapped by the Lannisters, even forcing her to marry Tyrion. Things only worsened for Sansa as the series progressed, with Sansa being raped and abused by Ramsay Bolton, leading her to contemplate suicide.

Related: Sophie Turner Movies & TV Shows (That Aren’t Game of Thrones & X-Men)

In an interview for The Cut, Turner talked with Jessica Chastain about her experiences filming Game of Thrones. When asked if Turner had a ritual for going back to her everyday life after playing a specific character, Turner revealed she didn’t but that it helps when she has co-stars willing to step out of their roles with her. She elaborated that, much like her experience in between takes on Dark Phoenix, she would try to have fun between takes on Game of Thrones so she wouldn’t be traumatized. When Chastain asked if she thinks the trauma still affects her, Turner confessed she’ll probably “exhibit some symptoms of trauma down the road.” Turner’s full comment from the interview can be read below: