Sophie Turner reveals the key reason why she left the US amid her divorce with ex husband Joe Jonas as she discusses her rollercoaster year in tell-all interview: 'My life was on pause'

Sophie Turner has revealed the real reason she left the US amid her divorce with ex- husband Joe Jonas in a new tell-all interview.

The Game Of Thrones star, 28, has given a rare insight into her rollercoaster year and touched upon homesickness and motherhood as she graced the cover of  Harper's Bazaar's December and January issue. 

Sophie, who is set to receive the coveted Performance Award at the Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2024, finalised her divorce with Joe, 35, in September, a little over a year after the singer filed for separation. They married in 2019. 

The proceedings were delayed by intense conflict with the two in regards to the custody agreements for their children, daughters Willa, four, and Delphine, two. 

Before the breakdown of their marriage, Sophie, who hails from Northampton, and her ex-husband Joe, 35, had been living in America with their two daughters but she was desperate to move back to the UK. 

Lifting the lid on the homesickness she felt, the Joan star said: 'Every city we ended up in, the first thing I’d do was find a British shop and stock up on a month’s worth of chocolate... 

Sophie revealed gun violence and changes to laws in the US were a key motivator in her wanting to return home. 

She continued: 'The gun violence, Roe v Wade being overturned... Everything just kind of piled on.'

In June 2022, America's top court overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling which had guaranteed women the right to an abortion up until the point of fetal viability, which is about 24 weeks.

Since moving back to the UK, Sophie has found success not only in her career with the drama Joan, but also in her personal life, moving on with aristocrat Peregrine Pearson. 

She recently went Instagram official with her boyfriend, aristocrat Peregrine Pearson, delighting fans. 

On Sunday, she shared a picture of the pair kissing under a tent alongside others showing them cosied up together on a canal boat, posing on a hot air balloon and skiing.

Of her return she said: 'I’m so happy to be back. It felt as if my life was on pause until I returned to England. 

'I just never really feel like myself when I’m not in London, with my friends and family. I was away for so long – six years – and it was when my friends were getting engaged, and when I got pregnant. 

'I went for dinner with someone the other day, and she said, "I never got to touch your belly." We didn’t have those key experiences with each other.'

In the new photoshoot, Sophie put on a glamorous display in a black and white statement blazer, going braless underneath for her cover image.

Other snaps saw the actress cut a racy figure as she showcased her legs in a sheer black and white polka dot gown.

She wore her blonde tresses in voluminous bouncy curls, before slipping into a smarter outfit - a floaty white shirt teamed with a stylish wide-rim fedora hat.

Sophie's character in Joan is a single mother trying to provide for her children in the new six-part crime series and the actress reflected on her own experience, admitting it has 'changed her so much in every way'.

She explained: 'Before I had kids, I was very depressed and anxious, and I would isolate [myself] a lot. Now, I think I live my life for them. I want them to see me having a social life and enjoying work and thriving in my career and relationships. 

'I want them to see a hard-working mum. I’ll come back and say, "This is why Mummy was away – it’s because she's doing this for you, so Father Christmas can come with a big bundle of presents."' 

Sophie has had a busy few months and most recently portrayed the real-life Joan 'The Godmother' Hannington, now 68, in her six-part ITV crime series Joan.

 The drama follows Joan as she escapes her violent husband but has to place her daughter into care as she gets back on her feet.

With no money and nowhere to live, she manages to secure a job in a jeweller's, from where she steals her first diamonds.

Her life takes a turn for the better when she meets antiques dealer Boisie, played by Harry Potter actor Frank Dillane, who takes her on as a partner in crime.

She will receive her Harper's Bazaar gong at the awards ceremony on November 5, held in partnership with The Platinum Card By American Express. 

Opening up on her leading role in Joan, Sophie told the publication: 'I'd never led a TV show before, and I feel as if it’s far more challenging than a big movie like X-Men. 

'There are so many people behind that, so many opinions. They make all the decisions, and you just kind of say, “Yes, OK, whatever needs to be done.” 

'Whereas with Joan, I had so much say in it, and it was so collaborative... It feels like I'm releasing something that’s very near and dear to my heart.'

Sophie catapulted to fame in 2011 when she stepped into the role of Sansa Stark on Game Of Thrones.

She remained on the show throughout its entirety, spending more a decade on screen in the role.

The actress explained she auditioned while she was still at school and her entire year group gave it a try.  

She admitted: 'I don’t know how it happened, because my audition tape was absolutely horrific. But, somehow, they ended up casting me.'

'I went from 13 to 23 on that show – it was my whole childhood. We’re all still on a massive group chat, and we try and meet each other whenever we’re in the same country... they’re family.

'At that age, all I knew was I wanted to act. I didn’t even think about my weight or how I looked, it was just, "This is fun, I get to play every day."

Commenting on the difficult side of finding fame at such an early age, Sophie added: 'I learnt far too young what I'm supposed to look like, and how I’m supposed to behave.

'I think that’s how child stars end up being so messed up, because they’re not allowed to make mistakes, and therefore they're not allowed to grow...'

Joan is available on ITVX. 

The December/January issue of Harper's Bazaar UK is on sale from 6 November.