ITV/The CW

Sophie Turner on Playing a Glamorous Diamond Thief Fighting for Custody of Her Child in British Crime Drama ‘Joan’: ‘I Had That Maternal Ferocity in Me’

28 Sep 2024, 14:00 by K.J. Yossman · Variety

Sophie Turner returns to the small screen with a sparkle in “Joan,” a new drama about a jewellery thief so prolific she became known as “the Godmother” in Britain’s criminal underworld. But despite her aptitude for pilfering wigs, diamonds and fake accents, “Joan” is as much a story about the lengths a mother will go to for her child (played by Mia Millichamp-Long) as it is a heist caper.

It was that maternal love that Turner, who has two young daughters of her own, most strongly identified with when she was first approached about the project. Ahead of the series dropping in the U.K. (on ITV from Sept. 30) and the U.S. (on The CW from Oct. 2 and BritBox on Dec. 5), she sat down to talk with Variety about the most challenging aspect of filming “Joan,” meeting the real diamond thief who inspired the series and whether she’d ever return to the “Game of Thrones” universe.

I auditioned for it — because she is so different from anyone I’ve ever played. It came through my agent, and I did one audition when I was pretty heavily pregnant with my second and then a second audition a few days after I given birth. But it was kind of a great time to do it, because of the subject matter of “Joan” and what she has to go through. I had that maternal ferocity in me and I think it serviced my audition.

You’ve met the real Joan – what’s she like?

That was probably like a week before shooting started. She was just phenomenal and such a force of nature. She brings such life into a room. I loved meeting her.

Sophie Turner and Mia Millichamp-Long in ‘Joan’ (Courtesy of ITV/The CW)

How does she reflect on her experiences?

When we met, we didn’t really talk about her life. By the time I’d met her, I’d already had the character in my head and so my meeting her was purely out of sheer curiosity. And now we talk about the most mundane things. She loves interior designing, and so that’s kind of the bulk of our conversations, and obviously, fashion and all that kind of stuff. So we kind of chat about the things that Joan would be interested in. I think she has to relive so much of her past in watching this show and doing these interviews and being a part of it, I kind of want to give her that sweet relief of just chatting about the jewellery she’s got on. [Laughing] Like: “Where’d you get that from?”

What was the most challenging part of filming the show?

Probably the scenes with [Joan’s daughter] Kelly. The emotional crux of the show is Joan and Kelly, and each and every scene is just heartbreak. And I developed such a close relationship with Mia, who plays Kelly, and she’s phenomenal. So it just made everything 10 times harder to act through. I mean harder in a sense of emotionally harder, but actually easier, because of what a great actress she is.

You were also going through a difficult period personally, including a divorce, around the time you filmed “Joan.” Did that feed into the role at all or did you manage to shut it out?

“Joan” was coming to an end around that time, and so I’d shot all of my scenes with Mia by that point. But, I mean, I was a new mother to my second child when I started shooting and so there was already kind of that fighting-for-my-kids in me. And yeah, it did feel like an interesting time with that subject matter. It still was at the forefront of my mind. I mean, you do anything for your children, you would die for your children, and so I totally understood Joan – totally understood.

The show also explores that balance of being a mother and continuing to be a woman in your own right with your own identity. Did that resonate?

It was interesting because there was talk of “maybe she’s just excellent at compartmentalizing.” Maybe that’s her thing. And then the more I thought about it and the longer I had been a mother, from the time I got the job to the time I started, it’s kind of this… — I find that allowing yourself to be a 20-something year old, and to meet people, go out, work is so important in general for the child. So it’s all for the wellbeing of this person. I’m so glad that they’re gonna grow up and go: “Oh look, Mommy’s gonna go out and do this” and it’s so that she can come home and we can spend more time together at the end of the day… I think it’s important for them to see that I’m going out and seeing friends and not isolating. I used to be a big isolator. I had mental health struggles, and now I know the importance of them seeing me curate friendships, because they learn all their attachment styles from you. And so, of course, Joan’s work isn’t necessarily the best form of work, but it all boils back down to Kelly.

Absolutely. And on a lighter note, the Eighties fashion in the show is epic. How involved were you in styling Joan?

I did not know any better than our costume designer, Richard Cook. He was pulling in, like, vintage Mugler from the ‘80s, and making outfits from scratch with his hands. Those guys lived in the ‘80s so I trusted them. I was not alive around then. But I mean, we, all of us, became so immersed in this Eighties world and the music we were playing was ‘80s when we were getting ready and in the fittings, everything became Eighties-fied.

What was the most fun disguise you got to wear?

A Scottish woman, and she was just fun because she was so sweet and innocent. All the characters Joan was putting on were very well to do women or someone very upper class, and this one was a little more sweet and innocent and needed some help. And that was a fun one to do — and fun to do a Scottish accent.

Sophie Turner in ‘Joan’ (Courtesy of ITV/The CW)

You do a lot of accents in the show! Did you work with a dialect coach?

I did. I was granted some mercy through the fact that Joan is not an expert at doing accents and I thought, thank God for that. She’s not an actor. But she grew up admiring this life from afar, seeing adverts on her little old TV when she was young and so I think she does these “Dallas”-style, exaggerated versions of ‘80s glamor, and that was really fun to do.

Before we wrap up, I have to ask about “Game of Thrones.” Could we ever see the return of Sansa Stark?

Maybe. I mean, it would have to be the exact same cast and the exact same crew otherwise I wouldn’t go back and that would just be Season 9, and I don’t think we’re going to do a Season 9, but, I mean, I loved playing Sansa, and I do wonder often what would she be doing now. Where would she be five years later, what would she be doing? Would she still be queen in the North? Would she be a good ruler? Would there be some other kind of terrible war that’s happened? I’d love to see it.

You’ve also played the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey. Was there any talk of you making a cameo in “Deadpool & Wolverine”?

No, I mean, I think, I think there’s, like, some sort of thing at the end where they used a clip from “X Men.” I remember signing some sort of contract. But no, that part of my life I think is well and truly over. I mean, maybe not — I love doing superhero-y action stuff, but I think the Jean Grey storyline for me is probably. It’s had its time.

What’s next for you?

I was doing a TV show that I just wrapped and then I’ve got a new project coming with Kit Harington called “The Dreadful.” It’s a somewhat Robert Eggers-esque horror set around the time of the War of the Roses.

Do you feel like you’ve had time away and now you’re in a moment where you’re leaning into your career more?

I definitely had a quieter patch. I kind of settled down into building a family and I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. And now I want them to see me working. And also, for me, I want to be back up on my feet and doing what I love, because acting is truly what fulfils me in my life. When I can be on a set I’m so happy. I’m so lucky that I get to balance the two things that fulfil me the most, which is being a mom and acting.

This interview has been edited and condensed for space and clarity.