British actress Sophie Turner has candidly discussed the significant impact that starting a family in her mid-twenties had on her professional trajectory, revealing she felt her career "stalled" and that she has since had to work to rebuild it.
Balancing Motherhood and Momentum
In a new interview with The Guardian, the 29-year-old star, famed for playing Sansa Stark in HBO's Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2019, reflected on having her two daughters, now aged five and three, with her ex-husband, pop star Joe Jonas. Turner stated she is happy with her decision to have children young, noting it freed her from concerns about her biological clock. However, she explained that stepping back to focus on her family, a decision compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, created an unexpected professional hiatus.
"It just felt like the right break to focus on me, because I’d been a character for so long," Turner said. "Nesting and being at home was amazing. But the flipside of it... was that this was a big break from the career." She emphasised the unforeseen importance of career momentum, adding, "You don’t realise how important momentum is in a career, and I stalled it a bit. And I’ve had to try to rebuild, in a way."
Looking Forward: New Roles and Industry Shifts
Following her divorce from Jonas in 2024, the same year she starred in ITV's crime drama Joan, Turner is now poised for a major comeback. She will next appear in the London-set series Steal, arriving on Prime Video this month. More prominently, the first official image of Turner as the iconic Lara Croft was unveiled this week, marking the start of production for a highly anticipated new Tomb Raider series on Prime Video.
The photograph shows Turner in action-ready attire, featuring combat shorts and a vest with a gun holstered on her thigh. The series, based on the legendary video game franchise, is being spearheaded by Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who serves as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner.
"I’ve been a long-time fan of Tomb Raider and the character of Lara," Turner said of her new role. "She has always felt for me, very emboldened in a male-dominated world. She’s a fierce female role model." The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast including Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, and Celia Imrie.
Optimism for the Future
Turner expressed cautious optimism about the evolving entertainment landscape, particularly within the UK. "The state of our industry is slowly getting a little bit better," she remarked. "Especially in the UK." Her comments highlight a personal and professional journey of navigating early motherhood in the spotlight, a stalled career, and a determined rebuild towards high-profile projects like the Tomb Raider reboot, which sees her following in the footsteps of film predecessors Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander.
