Sophie Turner has offered advice to the child actors starring in HBO’s new Harry Potter television series, warning them about the impact of social media.
Turner, now 29, was 14 when she joined Game of Thrones and said growing up in the spotlight had a damaging effect on her wellbeing.
“It had such a profound impact on my mental health, like more than I could tell you. It almost destroyed me on numerous occasions,” Turner told Flaunt magazine. She said therapy helped her cope and added, “One of the most important things to me in my life is talking about mental health: it’s vital.”
The actress expressed concern for Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton, who will play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger in the forthcoming series. “I look at the kids who are about to be in the new Harry Potter and I just want to give them a hug and say, ‘Look, it’s going to be OK, but don’t go anywhere near [social media],’” Turner said.
She also urged the young stars to maintain stability in their personal lives, “Stay friends with your home friends, keep living at home with your family, make sure your parents are your chaperones — it’s so important to have that grounding adjacent to the big, crazy stuff that you do.”
Turner, who shares daughters Willa and Delphine with ex-husband Joe Jonas, said she would not want her own children to start acting at a young age. “Oh God, they’re not acting! Not until they’re at least 25!” she said.
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