Sophie Turner, the actress who rose to global fame as Sansa Stark in HBO's epic fantasy series Game of Thrones, is stepping back into the spotlight with a powerful new role. In an exclusive interview, she reflects on her unique career journey, the challenges of early fame, and her latest project—the white-knuckle Prime Video thriller Steal.
From Westeros to a Corporate Heist
Turner's new venture is a departure from the medieval courts of Westeros. In Steal, she plays Zara, an office worker thrust into a high-stakes corporate heist. The series, penned by novelist Sotiris Nikias, blends intense action with a novelistic depth, creating a tense atmosphere where villains move like a malevolent swarm and motivations are constantly in question.
"There's so much betrayal, the stakes are so high, you can't prep the feeling," Turner explains, describing her immersive approach to the role. Her character is fuelled by "a lot of rage and sorrow", stemming from a difficult upbringing, making her far more complex than a typical damsel in distress.
The 'Game of Thrones' Bootcamp
Cast at just 13 years old, Turner had what she describes as a "trial by fire" introduction to acting. With no formal drama school training, she learned her craft on the Game of Thrones set, with the whole world watching. Looking back, she admits to feeling self-conscious about those early seasons.
"I learned how to act on that set, and now I'm thinking: that's not how to do it... It's very embarrassing," she confesses, comparing it to having singing lessons broadcast globally. She recalls the particular challenge of portraying aristocratic authority as a teenager alongside seasoned actors, a task that felt "foreign and so wrong" at the time.
One of her most poignant revelations is about the experience of portraying emotions she hadn't yet lived. "I remember having to act being in love before I'd ever been in love," she says. It was only after experiencing it herself that she truly understood the feeling, a process she calls part of the job's necessary discomfort.
Life, Love, and a Career Rebuild
Following Game of Thrones, Turner took a deliberate step back. She got engaged to singer Joe Jonas at 21, moved to the US, and had two daughters in quick succession. While she cherishes that family time, she acknowledges it caused a career stall. "You don't realise how important momentum is in a career, and I stalled it a bit," she reflects.
Now, following her divorce and return to the UK with her children, she is focused on rebuilding. Steal represents a significant homecoming, filmed in east London. She is also deep into preparation for her next major role: playing Lara Croft in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's live-action Tomb Raider series for Prime Video.
The training has been "absolutely intense"—eight hours a day, five days a week. "It's quite nice to learn how to throw a punch and not just take it," she quips, contrasting it with her physically passive role on Game of Thrones.
What's Next for Sophie Turner?
Despite being drawn to high-stakes drama, Turner reveals a desire to explore comedy, which she believes is "a lot harder than drama" due to its precise timing and delivery. For now, audiences can see her navigating the chaotic menace of Steal, a series she says cleverly updates the villain archetype for our times. "It's just rich people," she notes. "It's much better, much less racist."
Steal premieres on Prime Video on Wednesday 21 January.
