Sophie Turner may be best known for her fiery red hair as Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, but the actress is actually a natural blonde—a fact that still surprises many fans.
In a throwback photo shared on Instagram, Turner revealed her true hair color from her school days: a shiny, golden blonde styled in neat double braids. The look was a far cry from the bold auburn she wore on screen, but much closer to her real identity.
“My blond hair gives me a new identity that’s actually me,” Turner told Refinery29. “I feel more at home when I come back to my blond hair; it also makes me feel a bit cooler and edgier.”
The star originally changed her hair color for her breakout role in Game of Thrones. In an interview with Marie Claire, she said, “I’m naturally blond, so [my hair now] is like fading auburn. I like the auburn.” However, keeping up with Sansa Stark’s deep red tone took a toll. Turner used semi-permanent dye twice a week, which damaged her hair so badly she eventually had to wear a wig while filming.
“When I got back from the salon, I was brushing my hair, and it was coming right out. It was awful,” she told Refinery29. “When I went back to Game of Thrones, the stylists said, ‘I don’t know if we can dye it; it might ruin your hair. It’s in such bad condition.’ So, I wore a wig.”
Now that she has returned to her natural shade, Turner offers advice for others considering a hair color change. “Have it done professionally, use aftercare products, and ask for Wella hair dye,” she said. “If you dye your hair, it’ll always end up dry. But if you use Koleston Perfect, it’s like nothing ever happened.”
Among her go-to hair products are Wella Professionals Fusion Intense Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, which she told Glamour helped her restore her hair’s health.
Since Game of Thrones ended and following her recent divorce from Joe Jonas, Turner has embraced her blonde locks again, using the fresh start to evolve her personal style.
But she’s not ruling out bold changes in the future. “I would definitely consider dyeing my hair brunette or something crazier like a bright pink,” she said in a 2018 interview. Given how well she’s pulled off red and blonde, there’s little doubt she could make pink work just as well.
