Sophie Turner has candidly admitted it is a “struggle” being a single mother following her divorce from Joe Jonas.
The Game Of Thrones actress, 28, spoke out in a new interview ahead of her new six-part crime series Joan, airing on Sunday night, where she plays real-life Joan ‘The Godmother’ Hannington .
On September 11, it was reported that Sophie and her ex-husband Joe, 35, of the Jonas Brothers, had finally completed their year-long divorce.
The process was delayed by an intense conflict with the two regarding custody arrangements for their daughters Willa, four, and Delphine, two.
Sophie went Instagram official with her boyfriend, aristocrat Peregrine Pearson, last Monday, delighting fans. She married Joe in 2019.
Sophie Turner has candidly admitted it is a “struggle” being a single mother following her divorce from Joe Jonas.
The Game Of Thrones actress, 28, spoke out in a new interview ahead of her new six-part crime series Joan, airing on Sunday night, where she plays real-life Joan ‘The Godmother’ Hannington.
On her new role as mother Joan, Sophie said Sunday weather Culture Magazine: ‘Joan changed me a lot. From utter desperation comes so much will and ambition.
‘The series emerged at a time in my life when I had to be ambitious and I had to have a very strong will and fight against the forces. She gave me a lot of strength.
‘If I hadn’t been a mother, I don’t know if I would have been able to contribute the same energy that I did. “It’s a big struggle being a single mother.”
Earlier this week, Sophie admitted she felt “swept up” with emotion while filming ITV’s Joan, after starting work on the series during her divorce from Joe.
The series will follow Joan’s journey from housewife and mother, to petty criminal, diamond thief and criminal mastermind in 1980s London.
At a press conference about the show, Sophie explained that she had no problem turning on the water supply, saying: “I’m a Pisces, I’m emotional.”
Of her new role as mother Joan, Sophie said: “She’s very funny, but she’s been through a lot of trauma and she’s very ambitious.
‘There really is a lot to her: mother, lover, liar, thief. It’s just extraordinary that it’s all a true story.’
Of her new role as mother Joan, Sophie told The Times: ‘Joan changed me quite a bit. From utter desperation comes so much will and ambition. It’s a big struggle being a single mother.
The series will follow Joan’s journey from housewife and mother, to petty criminal, diamond thief and criminal mastermind in 1980s London.
The drama follows Joan as she escapes her violent husband, but has to care for her daughter while he recovers.
With no money and nowhere to live, he gets a job in a jewelry store, where he steals his first diamonds.
Her life improves when she meets antique dealer Boisie, played by Harry Potter actor Frank Dillane, who takes her on as an accomplice.
Sophie also said about tapping into her emotions: “And I’m a mom, so anything to do with kids just flows.” “I think sometimes when you do a show like this and there are diamonds and glamour, you get carried away with everything.”
‘You have to remember that this is to provide a solid and stable life for your daughter so that she can get her back. And it is truly a heartbreaking story.”
Sophie said of Frank: “We actually became very close during this. It was imperative that we had a good relationship and I think artistically I fell in love with Frank a little bit, because the way he works is fascinating. I really found myself trusting him to a lot of things, the emotional kind of things.
Frank says the feeling was mutual. “Sophie is very easy to love,” he says. “It was a real pleasure for me.”
Sophie listened to Wham, ABC, The Pretenders and Bucks Fizz for three weeks to get into the 80s character. Writer Anna Symon says the drama is based on Joan’s 2002 memoir, I Am What I Am.
Sophie and Joe’s divorce was dragged out by the custody battle over their two children: daughters Willa, four, and Delphine, two, but it recently ended.
Joan said: ‘I felt captivated. She is such a complex and extraordinary woman, vulnerable and strong. “He makes terrible decisions, but he’s someone people can identify with.”
Now retired from the robbery, the real Joan Hannington was delighted with Sophie’s performance. At a launch event in London with her son Benny, she said: “I’m a bit jealous (of Sophie), she’s slimmer and younger.”
‘They couldn’t have gotten anyone better, so congratulations to them. I hope they get the recognition they deserve.”
Joan starts on Sunday 29 September on ITV1 and ITVX
