Sophie Turner thought she had it all figured out when she moved to America.
She was married to a pop star, had a successful acting career, and was living the Hollywood dream.
But Sophie Turner learned one hard truth about family that changed everything – and now she’s never looking back.
The Game of Thrones star opens up about what really matters
The 29-year-old British actress didn’t mince words when she sat down with Flaunt magazine recently.
After her divorce from singer Joe Jonas was finalized last September, Turner packed up and moved back to London with her two daughters.
"I just feel so at home here; I never want to move again," Turner told the outlet.¹
The move came after what Turner described as a particularly difficult period during their custody battle.
She recalled being stuck on set filming while "all these articles started coming out" portraying her as a bad mother while Jonas was shown as the devoted father.
"I remember I was on set. I was contracted to be on set for another two weeks, so I couldn’t leave. My kids were in the States and I couldn’t get to them because I had to finish ‘Joan,’" Turner explained to British Vogue. "And all these articles started coming out."²
Turner discovered what every parent learns eventually
But here’s what really hit home for Turner during her time in America.
"Living in the states, I didn’t appreciate how much you need friends and family and how integral they are to your wellness until you’re away from them," she admitted.³
Turner said she "came back with an abundance of appreciation for them."
That’s something a lot of people don’t figure out until it’s too late.
You can have all the success in the world, but if you don’t have people who actually care about you around, what’s the point?
Turner found that out the hard way when she was dealing with her divorce and custody issues while being thousands of miles away from her support system.
Family won the battle against fame
The actress also revealed that becoming a mother completely changed her perspective on her career.
"Being a mother has affected me more than I can ever say," Turner told Flaunt. "I can now bring so much of that into my work and into this film too."⁴
Turner and Jonas had what they called a "mutually decided" split after four years of marriage, though court documents revealed the marriage broke down "very suddenly" following "an argument" that occurred on Jonas’s 34th birthday.
The couple reached an agreement on custody of their daughters Willa, 5, and Delphine, 3, with the girls apparently spending time in both the US and UK.
But Turner made it clear where her heart is.
She chose being near the people who matter most over the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
What Turner learned that others should remember
Look, Turner isn’t making some grand political statement here about America versus Britain.
She’s just figured out what a lot of people learn when life gets tough – family and real friends are what get you through the hard times.
When your world is falling apart, you don’t want to be surrounded by agents and publicists.
You want to be around people who’ve known you since before you were famous, who’ll tell you the truth, and who’ll be there no matter what.
Turner had to go through a very public divorce and custody battle to learn that lesson.
She was being portrayed as a bad mother in tabloids while being contractually stuck on a film set, unable to get to her children.
That’s when she realized that all the Hollywood success in the world doesn’t mean anything if you’re isolated from the people who actually love you.
"I just kept having to say to myself, ‘None of this is true. You are a good mum and you’ve never been a partier,’" Turner recalled about that difficult period.⁵
The real lesson here
Turner’s story isn’t unique – it’s just more public than most.
How many people move away from family for career opportunities, only to realize later what they’ve given up?
How many chase success in big cities while their parents age and their old friendships fade away?
Turner was lucky enough to be in a position where she could move back home.
Not everyone gets that chance.
The actress seems to have found her balance now, living in London near her support system while continuing her acting career.
She’s raising her daughters in the environment where she feels most comfortable and supported.
And she’s learned something that money can’t buy – the value of having people in your corner when life gets complicated.
Turner may be a celebrity, but her realization about family and friends is something every parent can understand.
Sometimes it takes losing something to realize what you really had.
¹ Tracy Wright, "Sophie Turner never wants to live in the US again after moving home to the UK," Fox News, August 24, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.