Game Of Thrones star Sophie Turner has shared her experiences of depression, revealing her mental health struggles were fuelled in part by criticism she faced from viewers.
Speaking to Dr Phil on his podcast Phil In The Blanks, Sophie described social media as a “catalyst” for her depression, which began when she was 17 years old.
Sophie, now 23, explained: “It only started to kind of go downhill I think when I started to hit puberty, and really puberty, though, at like 17.
“My metabolism was like slowing down massively, and I was gaining weight. And then there was the social media scrutiny and everything, and that was when it kind of hit me.”
During the interview, Sophie recalled constantly reading negative comments about her weight and skin, as well as her acting abilities, noting: “I would just say, ‘Yeah, I am spotty. Yeah I am fat. I am a bad actress’. And I just believed it.”
Sophie – who plays Sansa Stark in the hit drama – has since sought treatment, and says she now feels much better about herself, partly thanks to her fiancé, singer Joe Jonas.
“I don’t think I love myself at all, but I’m now with someone that makes me realise that I do have some redeeming qualities I suppose,” she said. “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 little bit more, so, yeah, I love myself.”
Sophie recently returned for the eighth and final series of Game Of Thrones, which launched earlier this week and has already gripped viewers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Listen to her full interview with Dr Phil here.
Useful websites and helplines:
- Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
- Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
- The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
- Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.