Sophie Turner Reveals 'Game of Thrones' Criticism Drove Her to Depression

Playing one of the main characters on the most popular show currently on television isn't always as glamorous as it seems. Sometimes, the pressures of fame can be too much. Sophie Turner realized this while playing Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, and has recently revealed that criticism she's received from starring on the hit show took a toll on her mental health.

Turner first played Sansa in 2011 when she was just a teenager, and she quickly became a household name. Now at 23, she's come forward to Dr. Phil on his podcast Phil in the Blanks to explain how negative comments on social media about her caused significant problems.

"I would just believe it. I would say, ‘Yeah, I am spotty. I am fat. I am a bad actress.' I would just believe it. I would get [the costume department] to tighten my corset a lot. I just got very, very self-conscious," Turner explained.

Later on these feelings lead to major depression. A sense of isolation started in Turner after she realized that all of her friends and family were going to university and she was pursuing a sometimes lonely acting career.

 "I had no motivation to do anything or go out. Even with my best friends, I wouldn't want to see them, I wouldn't want to go out and eat with them," Turner explained. "I just would cry and cry and cry over just getting changed and putting on clothes and be like, 'I can't do this. I can't go outside. I have nothing that I want to do.'"

The feelings of depression stayed with Turner for most of the time she was filming for Thrones, and even today. "I've suffered with my depression for five or six years now. The biggest challenge for me is getting out of bed and getting out of the house. Learning to love yourself is the biggest challenge," she continued.

Turner added that while it has been hard, she doesn't think she's capable of hurting herself. "It's weird. I say I wasn't very depressed when I was younger, but I used to think about suicide a lot when I was younger. I don't know why though. Maybe it's just a weird fascination I used to have, but yeah, I used to think about it. I don't think I ever would have gone through with it. I don't know," she clarified.

The actress shared that she goes to a therapist and takes medication for her depression--two things that have helped her feel a ton better.

With a wedding to fiancé Joe Jonas this year and a focus on her mental health, we unfortunately might not see Turner taking on many new acting roles in the near future. However, we'll continue to see her as Sansa Stark in the final season of Game of Thrones, and as Jean Grey in Dark Phoenix, which hits theaters June 7.

[h/t: E! News]