Sophie Turner first made waves as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, but after the show wrapped in 2019, she quietly stepped away from period dramas and fantasy worlds. Her departure from that realm came with roles in The Staircase and the thriller show Steal. For a long time, she did not star in any period dramas, but that changed when she reunited with her former co-star Kit Harington for the horror film The Dreadful, set in the 15th century.

Now, this long gap between Game of Thrones and The Dreadful was not a coincidence. After spending eight seasons playing a character set in a fictional medieval-inspired world, Turner opened up about the uncomfortable reason behind avoiding period dramas.

Sophie Turner is not shy about why she has been saying no to period dramas after Game of Thrones. The actress mentioned the weight of filming in flimsy cotton dresses during the show’s chilly outdoor shoots, and the show had several such scenes. She further opened up about one of the awkward and unglamorous side which is dealing with mud during the shoot.

“OK, this is the reason I don’t like doing them. You get mud on the bottom of your dress, and when you have to go and wee, the mud slaps your bum when you pull the dress up. It’s not as glamorous as it seems,” she told.

While the actress was candid about her struggles with mud, she had also faced several other challenges in the industry as a young actress, including public scrutiny and playing the demanding role of Sansa Stark. During her interview with the LA Times, Turner opened up about her experiences about seeking help from a therapist, as she struggled with depression and anxiety.

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Clearly, mud was far from the only challenge she encountered during her time portraying Sansa Stark. While she has expressed an interest in returning for potential Game of Thrones sequels to reprise her role, there is another reason that has made her hesitant about stepping back into the world of Westeros.

There has been a buzz about Game of Thrones sequels after author George R. R. Martin hinted at the possibility of three spin-offs. During her interview with The Direct, Sophie Turner was asked if she would be interested in reprising her role as Sansa Stark. The actress admitted that while she was intrigued by the idea, she also felt hesitant.

"I was very happy with the way Sansa ended her story in ‘Game of Thrones,” she said.

Turner was happy that her character ultimately became the Queen in the North, and a sequel risked changing it. She even joked that she might consider returning once she learned how much the paycheck would be. While the potential of a sequel leaves fans hopeful, the return of these characters will depend on the storyline. 

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What do you think about Sophie Turner’s reason for refusing period dramas? Let us know in the comments section below.