Sophie Turner became internationally recognized for her unforgettable role as Sansa Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones. From a young actress performing in local theater to one of the series’ most important characters, her career has been an impressive journey. Born in Northampton, England, and raised in Warwick, Turner discovered her passion for acting at an early age.
Her portrayal of Sansa took her through some of the most dramatic storylines in Game of Thrones, while her work outside the series helped establish her as a versatile performer. But there is much more to Sophie Turner than her famous character. Here are 15 interesting facts about the actress that fans may not know.
15. She Never Studied Drama
Turner began performing when she was very young and developed her skills through theater rather than formal drama education. She joined the Playbox Theatre Company as a child, where she gained valuable experience performing in different productions. Her time on Game of Thrones eventually became a major part of her practical education as an actress.
14. She Also Worked as a Model
Acting was Turner’s first major passion, but her striking appearance also opened the door to modeling. Her distinctive look, including her naturally light hair and blue eyes, helped her land a fashion campaign for Karen Millen in 2015. Her modeling work gave fans another opportunity to see her outside the world of Westeros.
13. She Got Her Big Break at 13
Turner’s journey to Game of Thrones began through her work with the Playbox Theatre Company. After auditioning for the series, she was on vacation with her family in France when she received the life-changing news. At only 13 years old, she learned that she had been selected to play Sansa Stark. It was the beginning of a career that would transform her life.
12. Her Childhood Was Spent in a Small Community
Sophie Turner was born in Northampton, England, and spent her early childhood there before her family moved to Warwick when she was two. Her mother worked as a nursery school teacher, while her father worked for a pallet distribution company. Turner grew up with two brothers and later attended Warwick Prep before studying at Kings High School for Girls.
11. She Became a Movie Star
While Sansa Stark made her famous, Turner soon expanded into film. One of her notable early movie roles came in X-Men: Apocalypse, where she portrayed Jean Grey. The role allowed her to step away from the medieval world of Game of Thrones and explore a major superhero franchise.
10. She Is Close Friends With Maisie Williams
Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams formed a close friendship while working on Game of Thrones. Their characters, Sansa and Arya Stark, were sisters on screen, and their real-life friendship became one of the most popular bonds among the young cast members. Despite their characters following very different paths throughout the series, Turner and Williams remained close away from the cameras.
9. She Had a Twin Who Died at Birth
Turner was reportedly supposed to have a twin sister who sadly died at birth. She has spoken about how this loss has influenced her emotionally and, according to earlier interviews, has sometimes drawn on those feelings while approaching difficult acting scenes. It is a deeply personal part of her family history.
8. She Started Acting as a Child
Before becoming Sansa Stark, Turner spent years performing at the Playbox Theatre. She appeared in several productions and gained experience in front of live audiences. One of her early leading roles was in Scary Play, and she also appeared in a production of The Wizard of Oz. Those early performances helped prepare her for professional acting.
7. Game of Thrones Was Her First Major Screen Role
Turner’s theater experience helped her earn an audition for Game of Thrones. The casting process included multiple auditions and chemistry tests before she was ultimately selected as Sansa Stark. Landing the role was a remarkable achievement because the series became her first major television acting opportunity.
6. She Appeared in a Bastille Music Video
Turner appeared in the music video for Bastille’s song “Oblivion,” from the band’s debut album Bad Blood. The video featured Turner alongside several other Game of Thrones cast members. Her appearance showed another side of the young actress and reflected her enthusiasm for music, which she has discussed in interviews.
5. Her On-Screen Wedding Was a Difficult Shoot
Sansa’s forced marriage to Tyrion Lannister was one of the memorable events in her Game of Thrones storyline. Behind the scenes, filming the wedding sequence reportedly took many hours. Turner later recalled that her elaborate costume made the shoot particularly challenging, turning the fictional ceremony into a memorable day for the actress as well.
4. She Had Rap Battles With Jack Gleeson
Although Sansa and Joffrey had a tense relationship on screen, Sophie Turner and Jack Gleeson had plenty of fun behind the scenes. The two reportedly entertained themselves with playful rap battles between takes. It was a humorous contrast to their characters’ very serious relationship in the series.
3. Horses Were a Challenge for Her
Working on a fantasy series often meant dealing with horses, which was reportedly difficult for Turner because she was allergic to them. Horses were an important part of transportation and battle scenes in Game of Thrones, so the actress sometimes had to work around her allergy while filming. It was an unusual challenge for someone starring in a medieval fantasy series.
2. She Adopted the Dog Who Played Her Direwolf
One of the sweetest connections between Turner and Game of Thrones involved the dog that portrayed Sansa’s direwolf, Lady. After Lady’s storyline ended, Turner’s family reportedly adopted the dog. The real-life connection gave the actress a special reminder of her years playing Sansa Stark.
1. Her Natural Hair Is Blonde
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises for fans is that Turner’s natural hair is blonde. For her role as Sansa Stark, she became known for her distinctive auburn-red hair. The color became an important visual part of the character and helped distinguish Sansa within the Stark family storyline. Turner’s appearance away from the series has therefore looked quite different from her iconic Westerosi character.
From her childhood theater performances to becoming one of the most recognizable faces of Game of Thrones, Sophie Turner’s career has been full of interesting milestones. Her friendship with fellow cast members, work in music videos and films, and transformation for the role of Sansa Stark all helped make her journey especially memorable.