Sophie Turner has said it is "such a struggle being a single mother" as she reflected on how her latest role gave her strength.
The British actress, 28, portrays notorious jewel thief Joan Hannington in the new ITV drama Joan, which follows her multifaceted life in the 1980s as a criminal and mother trying to get her daughter back from social services.
Turner told the Sunday Times Culture magazine that she does not know if she could have brought the "same energy" to the role of Hannington if she was not a mother.
She said: "It's such a struggle being a single mother. Joan doesn’t go about it in the best way – but it is amazing to see her really fighting for her daughter.
"It’s also really important for kids to see just how hard parents work for them."
The actress, who rose to fame as a teenager playing Sansa Stark in HBO’s hit fantasy series Game Of Thrones, also reflected on the judgment mothers face.
"There’s so much shame that comes with motherhood", she said.
"You go to work, you’re shamed. If you don’t go to work, you’re shamed."
The six-part series was written by Anna Symon from Hannington’s memoirs and the thief was consulted during the writing process.
Nicknamed 'The Godmother', Hannington was one of Britain’s most notorious criminals who got away with millions of pounds in diamonds.
Turner said portraying Hannington changed her "quite a lot" as a person.
She added: "From utter desperation comes so much will and ambition.
"The series came around at a time in my life where I had to be ambitious and I had to have such strong will and fight against the forces.
"She gave me a lot of strength."
Joan episode one is out on ITV1 on Sunday.
Source: Press Association
