Sophie Turner returns to the small screen with brilliance in “Joan,” a new drama about a jewel thief so prolific she became known as “The Godmother” in the British criminal underworld. But despite her aptitude for stealing wigs, diamonds and fake accents, “Joan” is as much a story about the lengths a mother will go for her son (played by Mia Millichamp-Lengthy) as it is a heist ploy.
It was this motherly love that Turner, who has two younger daughters, recognized most strongly when she was first approached about the project. Ahead of the series released in the United Kingdom. (on ITV from 30th September) and in the US (on The CW from 2nd October and on BritBox on 5th December), she sat down to talk to Selection about the most challenging aspect of filming “Joan”, meeting the real diamond thief who inspired the series and whether she would return to the “Game of Thrones” universe.
How did you accept the challenge?
I auditioned for it – because she’s completely different from anyone I’ve ever played. It came through my agent, and I took a test when I was almost pregnant with my second and then a second test a few days after giving birth. But it was a good time to do it, because of the subject matter of “Joan” and what she has to go through. I had that maternal fierceness in me and I feel like that helped my audition.
Have you met the real Joan – what is she like?
It was probably a week before filming started. She was just phenomenal and a great pressure of nature. She brings that life right into a room. I enjoyed meeting her.
How does it reflect your experiences?
After we met, we didn’t discuss her life. The moment I met her, I already had the character in my head and so I met her out of pure curiosity. And now we essentially discuss the most mundane issues. She loves interior design, and that’s most of our conversations and of course trends and all that kind of stuff. So we kind of talked about the things that fascinate Joan. I think she has to relive a lot of her past by watching this show and doing these interviews and being a part of it, I kind of want to give her that sweet help of just talking about the jewelry that she wore. (Laughing) Like, “Where did you get that from?”
What was the hardest part of filming the show?
Probably the scenes with (Joan’s daughter) Kelly. The emotional crux of the show is Joan and Kelly, and every scene is simply heartbreaking. And I’ve developed a really close relationship with Mia, who plays Kelly, and she’s phenomenal. So this just made each component 10 times more difficult to operate. I mean more durable in a more emotionally durable but actually easier way because of what a great actress she is.
You were also going through a difficult time personally, including a divorce, at the time you filmed “Joan.” Did that contribute in any way to the role or were you able to close it out?
“Joan” was coming to an end at that point, so I had already filmed all my scenes with Mia at that point. But, I mean, I was a new mother with my second child when I started filming and there was already a kind of fight for my children in me. And yes, it really felt like a fascinating time with this material. Still, it was at the forefront of my thoughts. I mean, if you do something to your children, you will die with them, and so I completely understood Joan – perfectly understood.
The show also explores the balance of being a mother and remaining a woman on her own with her own identity. Did that resonate?
It was interesting because there was a discussion about “maybe she’s just great at compartmentalizing.” Possibly this is her factor. And the more I thought about it and the longer I’ve been a mother, from the moment I got the job to the moment I started, it’s kind of like this… – I think allowing yourself to be 20-something out of date, and to fulfilling us, leaving, work is so important in general for the child. So it’s all for the well-being of that individual. I’m so happy that they’re going to grow up and say, “Oh, look, Mommy’s going to 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 feel like it’s necessary that they see that I’m going out and seeing friends and never isolating myself. I was a huge isolator. I have had mental health issues and now I know how important it is for them to see me healing friendships because they learned all their attachment types from you. And then, of course, Joan’s job isn’t necessarily the best kind of job, but it all comes down to Kelly.
Completely. And on a lighter note, the 80s style in the show is epic. How worried were you about styling Joan?
I didn’t know any better than our costume designer, Richard Cook. He was wearing the classic 80s Mugler and making clothes from scratch along with the arms. These guys lived in the 80s, so I trusted them. I wasn’t alive at that time. But I mean we, all of us, got so immersed in this 80s world and the music we were playing was 80s, when we were preparing and at events, everything became 80s.
What was the most fun costume you bought to wear?
A Scottish woman, and she was just fun because she was so sweet and harmless. All the characters that Joan was playing were either very good for women or someone of very high class, and this one was just a little more sweet and harmless and needed help. And that was fun to do – and fun to do in a Scottish accent.
You do a lot of accents on the show! Have you worked with a dialect coach?
I did. I had some mercy that Joan wasn’t an expert at doing accents, and I thought, thank God for that. She is not an actress. But she grew up admiring that life from afar, watching ads on her little old TV when she was younger, and so I think she does these exaggerated versions of “Dallas”-style 80s glamour, and that was really fun to do.
Before we wrap up, I need to ask about “Game of Thrones.” Will we ever see the return of Sansa Stark?
Possibly. I mean, it has to be the same cast and the same crew, otherwise I wouldn’t come back and this could just be season 9, and I don’t think we’re going to do a season 9, however, I mean, I enjoyed playing Sansa and sometimes I wonder what she would be doing now. Where would she be five years later, what would she be doing? Would she still be Queen of the North? Would she be a very good ruler? Was there another kind of horrible fight taking place? I would like to see that.
You also played the iconic X-Men character Jean Grey. Was there any discussion about you doing a cameo in “Deadpool & Wolverine”?
No, I mean, I feel, I feel like there’s some kind of thing at the end where they used a clip from “X Males.” I remember signing some kind of contract. But no, I feel like a part of my life is already over. I mean, maybe not – I like doing superhero action stuff, but I think the Jean Gray storyline for me might be. It’s had its time.
What’s next for you?
I was doing a TV show that I just wrapped and then I got a new project with Equipment Harington called “The Dreadful.” It’s a considerably Robert Eggers-style horror, set during the War of the Roses.
Are you feeling like you’ve been away for a while and are now at a point where you’re dedicating yourself more to your career?
Without a doubt, I had a calmer phase. I kind of started building a family and wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. And now I need them to see me working. And similarly, for me, I want to be back on my toes and doing what I love, because acting is really what fulfills me in my life. When I’m on a set, I’ll be very happy. I’m very lucky to be able to balance the two things that fulfill me most, which are being a mother and acting.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.