Like her on-screen sister Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner is opening up about some challenges she’s faced in the last few years. Sophie, who is promoting her next film, Dark Phoenix out June 7, admitted that having her adolescence scrutinized by the public took her to a bad place mentally. In an interview with Marie Claire, Sophie emphasized the toll it took on her to always have people telling her, “you’re not good enough and you don’t look good enough,” which, let’s face it, would wreak havoc on any of us. In an interview with the Sunday Times that came out last Sunday, Sophie said therapy and meeting husband Joe Jonas helped her overcome those issues.
Sophie Turner is crediting her new husband Joe Jonas with helping her through a difficult time in her life.
In a recent interview with the Sunday Times, the 23-year-old actress said that she was “going through this phase of being very mentally unwell” when she first met Jonas, 29.
“Having your adolescence being displayed in public, that’s something I really wish hadn’t happened,” Turner said of growing up on Game of Thrones. “Being in the age of social media when that’s happening, I think I would be a much saner person if I hadn’t been documented from 13 — your most awkward, uncomfortable, unsure-of-yourself years.”
Turner said that her body started to change over the many years of filming, and she eventually went to therapy after she started “calorie counting” and missing periods.
“Suddenly, everyone’s metabolism slows down at 17, 18 and then that’s documented,” she told the outlet. “My skin and everything. People commenting on it. I was too aware of my body at a young age. And it just kind of took over my mind, it was all I would think about. Calorie counting, everything. Oh, I’ll just eat nuts today.”
The Dark Phoenix star added, “I stopped having my period for a year — that’s when I decided to have therapy.”
Turner met Jonas at age 20 when she was “going through this phase of being very mentally unwell,” she recalled of that time in her life. “He was, like, ‘I can’t be with you until you love yourself, I can’t see you love me more than you love yourself.’ That was something, him doing that,” she continued. “I think he kind of saved my life, in a way.”
“I can’t see you love me more than you love yourself,” that’s quite insightful and increases my respect for Joe. Because this truly is a huge part in improving your mental health. Like most challenges, the honest healing comes when a person does it for themselves and not for someone else. Not to mention the fact that Joe knows of what he speaks, since he spent a chunk of his adolescence in the spotlight too. I’m sure this shared experienced allowed them to relate to each other.
I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be a teenager in the spotlight. It must be awful to have your appearance, talent and general behavior dissected like that. As Sophie mentioned, there is an exorbitant amount of pressure that comes with being a child star compounded with the normal teenage issues. I’m delighted Sophie had Maisie for support and found Joe right when she needed him. Sophie deserves most of the credit because a person can have all the support and love in the world, but they ultimately do the work. I hope Sophie and Joe find many years of happiness together.
Photo credit: WENN Photos
I think she is amazing and I admit I’ve been side eyeing her being with Joe Jonas.
But ok, I see you Joe Jonas.
This has elevated him tremendously in my eyes.
Co-signed!
Agreed. Agreed. Agreed. This quote actually warmed my icy heart for just a moment. Love what he said.
Yes to all of this!
Yes!
Yes!!!!! He seems like a real one.
They came into eat at the restaurant where I work a couple years ago, super polite and friendly couple. Joe was especially gracious, you could tell he was raised well!
I was expecting to comment about how I don’t think it’s a good idea to put too much credit on your significant other for things like mental health or sobriety etc, it always creates issues if you break up, but what Joe said was actually pretty amazing and I have more respect for him now. It’s so true too, you can’t love someone else if you don’t love yourself first, took me a long time to see that and I spent 4 years single and celibate figuring out how to do just that!
I also love how Sophie and Maisie are so honest about their mental health, it needs more public discussion to be normalized. So many people suffer from mental health issues and never get help out of shame.
I was hugely impressed by her interviews and honestly – especially when we are in the midst of a mental health crisis.
It would have been so easy for her to have said nothing or something throw away. This was meaningful.
JJ has been hugely raused in my opinion
Same here, the headline had me worried, but what he said to her was great, and I’m also glad she sought out therapy for herself.
I really like hearing stories like this. I was worried it would be something unhealthy like, ‘he brought light into my life’, but ‘you need to love yourself so we can work’ is much more mature.
I like them together. I like that she’s a tall leggy redhead and he’s a more petite sexpot. He reminds me of Prince a bit.
she’s not a redhead, that’s just a wig for the dragon show – she’s blonde.
Sure, still like it if she’s blonde.
I knew there was a reason why they make so much sense to me as a couple. Couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but now I know they’re the real deal. I still can’t believe she’s been through such things. I just wanna give her a hug.
That was perfect what Joe said. He was always my favorite, and this makes me like him more.
Have to admire her and Maisie for their openness and am glad they are better. Now if only Millie Bobby Brown had someone like Joe around, I fear for that one. Given her stage parents I fear she may gone down the route many other child stars have gone down before. At some point things are going to come to a head with her.
As for Joe, he gives me Prince vibes.
There is a lot of pressure that comes with growing up in the public eye, and for the girls/women, the unhealthy behaviors from the public, unfair expectations, and toxic reactions from the public when those expectations aren’t being met are tripled. There’s an extra level of hostility and entitlement from both sexes when it comes to female public figures. Good thing she’s had someone supporting her.
I’ve always liked this couple. They seem to really complement each other and appear to be very cool, nice people. I think they will go the distance.
Can I just say how refreshing it is to see young women like Sophie and Elle Fanning talk about their periods without hesitation or embarrassment?
It’s so disheartening to read about the crazy expectations put on young kids in Hollywood, it’s a wonder any of them make it into adulthood whole…I’m glad she seems to be in a healthier space.