‘Game of Thrones’ actor Sophie Turner has revealed how social media trolls impacted on her mental health in a recent podcast interview with Dr. Phil.
23-year-old Sophie Turner who stars as Sansa Stark in the HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones spent much of her teenage years on the show, and has said that being a high profile star whilst going through puberty left her struggling with depression, as she was constantly worried about her image.
“The biggest challenge is just for me getting out of bed and getting out of the house and learning to love yourself I think is the biggest challenge,” said the teen star.
She said she felt alone after her friends and brothers moved away for college, while she was working on Game of Thrones and living with her parents. Social media became a “catalyst” for her depression, she said.
She believes that a lot of the mental health problems she had stemmed from constant hate and criticism on social media.
“I think it only went downhill when I started to hit puberty, really puberty though at like 17 and my metabolism was slowing down massively, I was gaining weight and then there was the social media scrutiny. You see ten great comments and you ignore them. One negative comment and it just throws you off.
“People were like, ‘Damn Sansa gained 10 pounds’ or ‘Sansa needs to loose 10 pounds’, ‘Sansa’s got fat’. I would just say yeah, I am spotty, I am fat, I am a bad actress and I just believed it.”
She said now she feels much better since seeking therapy and treatment.
“I love myself now, or more than I used to, I think. I don’t think I love myself at all, but I’m now with someone that makes me realize, you know, that I do have some redeeming qualities I suppose,” she said, referencing her fiancé Joe Jonas.
“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.”
