112 
‘Game Of Thrones saved me from a life of prostitution, and has made me a much stronger person,’ she says.
For
the actress, Josephine Gillan, really did earn her living as a
prostitute before finding stardom in Game Of Thrones. And it is only her
role in the show that has finally allowed her to escape.
the actress, Josephine Gillan, really did earn her living as a
prostitute before finding stardom in Game Of Thrones. And it is only her
role in the show that has finally allowed her to escape.
Today,
the 27-year-old is in demand as a serious actress even though she had
no professional training when she started the show – just a troubling
understanding of the world she would be paid to depict.
the 27-year-old is in demand as a serious actress even though she had
no professional training when she started the show – just a troubling
understanding of the world she would be paid to depict.
‘Game Of Thrones saved me from a life of prostitution, and has made me a much stronger person,’ she says.
‘I
was working as a whore and at the same time making X-rated movies,
using the name Sophie O’Brien, when I saw an advert on a website for
actresses in the film industry.
was working as a whore and at the same time making X-rated movies,
using the name Sophie O’Brien, when I saw an advert on a website for
actresses in the film industry.
‘They
were looking for young women with natural breasts and no tattoos, who
didn’t mind being filmed naked. So I immediately sent in a picture.
were looking for young women with natural breasts and no tattoos, who
didn’t mind being filmed naked. So I immediately sent in a picture.
‘They
wrote back that they wanted me and I was thrilled because it was an
amazing opportunity to do some proper acting. But I had no idea how much
it would change my life.’
wrote back that they wanted me and I was thrilled because it was an
amazing opportunity to do some proper acting. But I had no idea how much
it would change my life.’
Based on American author George R. R. Martin’s books, Game Of Thrones has become one of the most watched dramas on TV.
It
has won 26 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, and
attracts an average 8.6 million viewers for each episode.
has won 26 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, and
attracts an average 8.6 million viewers for each episode.
Some
have been troubled by the drama’s uninhibited approach: Josephine made
her debut in series two as a novice prostitute being shown how to fake
an orgasm.
have been troubled by the drama’s uninhibited approach: Josephine made
her debut in series two as a novice prostitute being shown how to fake
an orgasm.
But she is in no doubt about the difference between the fantasy on screen and reality.
Josephine
suffered a childhood corrupted by sex abuse, alcohol and class-A drugs.
She went to 24 different primary schools as her mother fled a violent
relationship, and was taken into care at 12 and then fostered.
suffered a childhood corrupted by sex abuse, alcohol and class-A drugs.
She went to 24 different primary schools as her mother fled a violent
relationship, and was taken into care at 12 and then fostered.
‘They
put me in a household where I was groomed by a family friend, who gave
me cannabis and alcohol when I was 12 and got me hooked on cocaine when I
was 14. He raped me two years later and then pimped me out to his
friends.
put me in a household where I was groomed by a family friend, who gave
me cannabis and alcohol when I was 12 and got me hooked on cocaine when I
was 14. He raped me two years later and then pimped me out to his
friends.
‘I
was too frightened to tell anyone because he threatened to bury me in
the garden if I did. He said he’d done it before and I believed him,’
she says.
was too frightened to tell anyone because he threatened to bury me in
the garden if I did. He said he’d done it before and I believed him,’
she says.
Her
childhood experiences left her feeling unworthy of a proper relationship
and she broke off an engagement and turned to prostitution to earn a
living.
childhood experiences left her feeling unworthy of a proper relationship
and she broke off an engagement and turned to prostitution to earn a
living.
By
the time she arrived on the Game Of Thrones set, she was understandably
nervous, but quickly discovered there were several actresses from a
similar background.
the time she arrived on the Game Of Thrones set, she was understandably
nervous, but quickly discovered there were several actresses from a
similar background.
They appear as slave girls and prostitutes, parading naked, performing sex acts and taking part in orgies.
Josephine
is determined to use the success of the series to further her career as
she seeks more conventional roles – although she is still routinely
asked if she is actually having sex in the brothel scenes on the show.
is determined to use the success of the series to further her career as
she seeks more conventional roles – although she is still routinely
asked if she is actually having sex in the brothel scenes on the show.
‘People ask me all the time if we are at it for real and I reply, “Are dragons or zombies real?”.
‘The
reality is that the male actors are so uncomfortable doing sex scenes
that I can usually feel them shaking nervously under me.
reality is that the male actors are so uncomfortable doing sex scenes
that I can usually feel them shaking nervously under me.
‘I
think they suffer from performance anxiety, because they are almost
naked and there are usually about 30 crew members on set.’
think they suffer from performance anxiety, because they are almost
naked and there are usually about 30 crew members on set.’
However,
her lack of modesty and experience in the adult film industry made her a
natural performer. ‘They didn’t need to show me how to do anything
because that’s how I earned my living,’ she admits.
her lack of modesty and experience in the adult film industry made her a
natural performer. ‘They didn’t need to show me how to do anything
because that’s how I earned my living,’ she admits.
She has gone on to become one of the longest surviving characters in a series which routinely slaughters them by the dozen.
She
has appeared in series two, three, four, five and now six and she
revealed that she has already been signed up for series seven, which
begins filming later this year.
has appeared in series two, three, four, five and now six and she
revealed that she has already been signed up for series seven, which
begins filming later this year.
In
her most famous scene to date, she performed a standing split while
naked while auditioning for a threesome with Prince Oberyn Martell and
his lover Ellaria, wearing nothing but a modesty patch (a piece of cloth
taped over her private parts) to spare her blushes.
her most famous scene to date, she performed a standing split while
naked while auditioning for a threesome with Prince Oberyn Martell and
his lover Ellaria, wearing nothing but a modesty patch (a piece of cloth
taped over her private parts) to spare her blushes.
Between scenes, slaves and brothel girls mix with lords and ladies.
Josephine
says: ‘I remember one day a few of us girls from the brothel scenes had
afternoon tea with Charles Dance – who played Lord Tywin Lannister –
and he was so flirtatious. With so many people working together so
closely you can imagine that there have been a few affairs, but I
haven’t had one!
says: ‘I remember one day a few of us girls from the brothel scenes had
afternoon tea with Charles Dance – who played Lord Tywin Lannister –
and he was so flirtatious. With so many people working together so
closely you can imagine that there have been a few affairs, but I
haven’t had one!
‘I spoke to
Kit Harington [Jon Snow in the series] in the hair dressing trailer when
he was complaining about having to get his brown hair dyed black. He
was very chatty and all the girls were swooning in his presence. I’m not
the only one who’s glad that he wasn’t killed off.’
Kit Harington [Jon Snow in the series] in the hair dressing trailer when
he was complaining about having to get his brown hair dyed black. He
was very chatty and all the girls were swooning in his presence. I’m not
the only one who’s glad that he wasn’t killed off.’
The
show has attracted international criticism for its depictions of rape,
incest, murder and torture as well as louche sex. Josephine is keen to
remind people it’s just a fantasy world. She says: ‘Watch the
entertainment and enjoy. Or don’t if you’re too prudish.’
show has attracted international criticism for its depictions of rape,
incest, murder and torture as well as louche sex. Josephine is keen to
remind people it’s just a fantasy world. She says: ‘Watch the
entertainment and enjoy. Or don’t if you’re too prudish.’
For
her, that fantasy world has been the saviour of her real one. She
credits the show with stopping her life spiralling out of control, and
says it has allowed her to dream of a better future.
her, that fantasy world has been the saviour of her real one. She
credits the show with stopping her life spiralling out of control, and
says it has allowed her to dream of a better future.
Since
finishing work on series six, she has appeared in two independent films
and is about to star in a horror mystery, to be filmed in Mexico this
summer.
finishing work on series six, she has appeared in two independent films
and is about to star in a horror mystery, to be filmed in Mexico this
summer.
Tomorrow
night’s episode will see her character return as if from the dead,
having last been seen being dragged by religious militants from the best
brothel in King’s Landing at the close of series five.
night’s episode will see her character return as if from the dead,
having last been seen being dragged by religious militants from the best
brothel in King’s Landing at the close of series five.
But
happily for Josephine, there will be no dramatic resurrection of Sophie
O’Brien the prostitute and porn star, who is now finished for good.
happily for Josephine, there will be no dramatic resurrection of Sophie
O’Brien the prostitute and porn star, who is now finished for good.
Source: Mail Online
