If you spent the better part of a decade watching a girl with fiery hair navigate the most dangerous court in Westeros, you know her face as well as your own. But who plays Sansa Stark? That would be Sophie Turner. She didn't just play the role; she basically grew up inside of it.
It’s wild to think about now, but when Turner first stepped onto the set of Game of Thrones, she was only 14 years old. Most of us were struggling with algebra and bad haircuts at that age. She was busy being betrayed by Joffrey Baratheon.
The Girl Behind the Northern Crown
Sophie Turner’s journey as Sansa is one of the most intense "growing up on screen" stories in Hollywood history. Honestly, it wasn't always easy. She’s been very vocal lately about how the pressure of being in the global spotlight during puberty messed with her head. Fans were brutal. The internet would comment on her skin or her weight while she was just trying to figure out how to be a person, let alone a Duchess of Winterfell.
She actually dyed her hair blonde to auburn for years to maintain that Tully-Stark look. Eventually, her hair got so damaged from the constant processing that she had to switch to wigs in the later seasons. It's those little behind-the-scenes details that remind you these actors aren't just pixels on a screen; they’re people dealing with real-world consequences for our entertainment.
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Why Sophie Turner Still Matters in 2026
You might think her career peaked when she was crowned Queen in the North. You’d be wrong. As of early 2026, Turner is arguably having her biggest year since the HBO finale.
She’s currently filming the massive Tomb Raider live-action series for Prime Video. She is the new Lara Croft. Let that sink in. Following in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander is no small feat. The first "wardrobe test" images just dropped a few days ago, showing her in the classic turquoise tank top and tactical gear. People are losing their minds over it.
- Project: Tomb Raider (Series)
- Role: Lara Croft
- Status: In production (filming started January 2026)
- Co-stars: Sigourney Weaver and Jason Isaacs
Beyond the Direwolf
It isn't just about the big action franchises, though. Turner has been putting in the work in "prestige" drama too. If you haven't seen her in Joan, you’re missing out. She plays Joan Hannington, a real-life notorious British jewel thief from the 1980s. It’s a gritty, neon-soaked crime drama that proves she’s got way more range than just "the girl who suffered in King's Landing."
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She also has a horror-thriller called The Dreadful hitting theaters in February 2026. The best part? She’s reuniting with Kit Harington (Jon Snow). Seeing those two back together on screen is going to be a massive nostalgia trip for anyone who misses the Sunday night rituals of the 2010s.
The Sansa Legacy
The character of Sansa Stark was polarizing for a long time. People called her "weak" or "annoying" in the early seasons because she wasn't swinging a sword like Arya. But Turner played the long game. She portrayed a survivor who used "soft power" and observation.
Sophie has mentioned in interviews that she still carries a "large chunk of Sansa" with her. It makes sense. You don't spend ten years—your entire formative adolescence—playing a character and just walk away clean. She’s even talked about how the trauma her character faced on screen sometimes felt like it was bleeding into her own reality, leading to her being a huge advocate for mental health and therapy for actors.
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What’s Next for the Queen?
If you're looking to follow her career right now, keep an eye on these specific moves:
- Watch Joan: It’s available on various streaming platforms (ITVX in the UK, The CW/BritBox in the US) and shows her most transformative acting to date.
- The Tomb Raider Hype: Expect the first trailer for the Phoebe Waller-Bridge-led series to drop sometime late this year.
- The Dreadful: Mark your calendars for February 20, 2026, for the theatrical release of her reunion with Kit Harington.
Sophie Turner is no longer just the answer to the question "who plays Sansa Stark." She’s become a powerhouse lead who is currently redefining what a post-Thrones career looks like. She didn't get stuck in the "child actor" trap; she just shifted into a higher gear.
Whether she's stealing diamonds in the 80s or raiding tombs in the jungle, she’s doing it with a level of confidence that only someone who survived the Long Night could have.
To stay updated on Sophie Turner’s latest projects, you can track the production updates for the Tomb Raider series on Prime Video or look for the upcoming press tour for The Dreadful in February 2026.