We’re coming up on Game of Thrones season 7, and the cast is out in force talking up the new season. Sophie Turner, who’s played the beleaguered Sansa Stark since season 1, has given consistently interesting interviews, and her recent talk with Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore is no exception. “ from being a naive, vulnerable innocent young woman and being such an underdog… to being a leader, powerful and hungry for revenge from the people who have done her family wrong,” she said.
Fair enough. But Turner took the revenge theme to some expectedly places, even comparing Sansa to Cersei Lannister, one of her former tormenters:
"They’re both so family-obsessed and family-oriented, and will do anything for the people they love. I can totally see her becoming a Cersei and kind of driven mad by it, by the threats against her family. At the end of the day, that’s why she does the things that she does, because she’s terrified of losing the people she loves. And so she’ll stop at nothing to protect them. If that means becoming like a ruthless killer, leader, sadistic woman or evil lady, then so be it. I don’t think it matters to her, and I can see Sansa swinging that way too."
Among other things, Cersei is known to start violent religious revivals and blow up churches when she thinks her family is threatened. Let’s hope Sansa doesn’t take it that far.
"View post on imgur.com"
Turner also weighed in on where Sansa’s head is at near the end of season 6, saying she “just feels kind of under-appreciated, and she’s kind of wondering where her loyalties lie now.”
"I think she’s just frustrated – she’s worked so hard, tirelessly to convince him [Jon Snow] that this is what the right battle plan was and he wouldn’t listen to her. She ended up having to save him and yet he gets hailed as King of the North and he doesn’t say a thing [about Sansa saving him]."
She also weighed in on that look Sansa and Littlefinger shared in the Winterfell great hall as Jon was declared King in the North. “I felt like…Littlefinger kind of saying ‘You know, I told you so. You should have listened to me, you should have stuck with me’ and her acknowledging that she realises that now.” You’re making us nervous, Turner.
Finally, Turner talked about the ever-present problem all Game of Thrones cast members share: the potential deaths of their characters. “It’s really amazing to watch grow, but now I’m a little worried because she’s kind of reached a pinnacle,” Turner said. “Is it all downhill from here? Does she die now? So who knows – maybe she does.”
"From the beginning of season six, I started preparing myself. I really truly think that it’s going to be like a death in the family, because I’ve grown up with her, she really feels like my other half. She’s someone that I spend six months [a year] of my life playing, so it’s just going to be so bizarre to see her go."
I suspect Turner is playing with us a little here — after all, she knows whether Sansa survives season 7, at least. But we won’t know the full truth until the show comes to a close.
Season 7 premieres July 16.