“Game of Thrones” Star Sophie Turner Opens Up About Feeling Pressured to Lose Weight

Throughout the eight nail-biting seasons of HBO’s Game Of Thrones, we’ve seen Sophie Turner transform in her role as Sansa Stark. Gloriously, she went from a submissive young teen seeking love and approval from the dreaded King Joffrey, to a cutthroat leader holding down the ranks in Winterfell.

Her role as the eldest Stark daughter has also paved the way for Turner to play one of the most powerful mutants in Marvel’s X-Men universe: Jean Grey in Dark Phoenix. The movie, which is hitting theaters in June, shows the story of the superhero who loses control of her powers and threatens the safety of the world. With Sansa and Jean on her acting resume, it’s no secret that Turner is perfect for playing strong female leads and that she has certainly fought her fair share of battles on the screen — but like anyone else out there, the actress has been dealing with more behind the scenes.

Sophie recently opened up about her real-life struggles as an actress and the pressures of Hollywood that come with it.

The series began filming when Turner was just 14 years old, and like any other teen, she faced issues with self-esteem and body image. But unlike others, Turner had the eyes of millions on her, bringing a whole new level of vulnerability to the young actress.

Unfortunately, but understandably, this affected her mental health.

In an interview with Marie Claire Australia, Turner opened up about how being in the public eye took a physical toll on her body.

Specifically, she discussed how she felt “pressured” by the industry to lose weight.

“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.

Along with being on screen, Turner also came across negative comments about her weight, skin, and acting skills on social media that made her feel “very, very self-conscious.”

So how does Sansa Stark handle it all? Therapy.

“Everyone needs a therapist, especially when people are constantly telling you you’re not good enough and you don’t look good enough,” she told Marie Claire Australia.

Thankfully for Turner, it’s not all about battles for the throne or with her body image.

She has clearly found a good friend in GoT co-star Maisie Williams. (Maisie is actually supposed to be Sophie’s maid of honor!)

She also has the support of her fiancé, Joe Jonas, who recently championed the actress on Instagram when the final season of Game of Thrones debuted in April.

#Goals:

The happy couple also recently tied the knot during a surprise Las Vegas wedding, Elvis impersonator and all.

Though Sophie is a star with a seemingly glamorous life, it’s also important to remember that she’s a human being.

We’re especially grateful that she is so frank about this part of her life, since many of us have dealt with similar feelings.