Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
Sophie Turner has a clear message for the next generation of Harry Potter stars: protect your mental health.
An actor who grew up inside one of television’s biggest global franchises is offering an early caution to the children about to inherit another.
Sophie Turner, known worldwide for portraying Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, has reflected on the pressures she faced and the challenges she believes will confront the next generation.
Speaking to Flaunt, she described the emotional cost of adolescence spent on screen, warning that today’s young performers will be stepping into an even harsher digital environment.
Early lessons learned
Turner noted that social media had not yet fully saturated daily life when her career began at age 13. That brief window, she said, gave her a measure of distance before the online scrutiny intensified.
The actor recalled that the platforms’ rise “had such a profound impact on my mental health, like more than I could tell you. It almost destroyed me on numerous occasions.”
According to Flaunt, Turner said she now looks at the soon-to-be stars of HBO’s Harry Potter series and feels protective, knowing they will face such exposure from the outset.
Advice for young stars
Turner told the magazine that she wishes she could “give them a hug,” before outlining what she would tell the young cast.
Her guidance was simple: avoid social platforms entirely, stay close to long-time friends, keep life anchored at home and rely on parents as chaperones. “It’s so important to have that grounding adjacent to the big, crazy stuff that you do,” she said.
The new series’ core trio, Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton, were selected from more than 32,000 hopefuls to play Harry, Ron and Hermione.
They are expected to lead the show through seven seasons, each based on one of J.K. Rowling’s books.
A decade-long project
Production has begun at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden outside London.
According to reports, the scale includes a purpose-built school for up to 600 pupils so lessons can continue alongside filming.
Around 150 children will attend on a typical day, with capacity expanding during busier stretches.
The arrangement echoes the educational setup used during the earlier film franchise but on a larger scale, reflecting the long-term commitment required.
Filming is anticipated to run for roughly ten years, carrying its young leads into adulthood.
Sources: Flaunt, IGN Nordic
