Over at Comic-Con in San Diego, Sophie Turner - who plays Sansa Stark in "Game of Thrones - on Saturday opened up about her character and the controversial rape scene fans witnessed in Season 5.
Many fans were caught off guard by the horrific sight of Sansa Stark screaming and crying as Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) forced himself on her, with Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) left with no choice but to watch.
Sophie Turner took to address that Sansa is in the same powerful stance in spite of the hardships she's endured and triumphed over the past season. An attendee asked Turner about the rape scene during the panel.
"[If] there's one thing that Sansa still is, despite what happened to her, [it's] strong," said Turner. She continued, "She's not to blame for any of that. I really don't know why they [...] focused on Theon, because I was giving a great performance."
Sophie Turner continues to elaborate that Sansa Stark's difficult life with the Boltons could ultimately lead to her own death. Turner explains how the rape scene was able to affect Sansa in ways that fans perhaps would not have thought.
Turner says, "She thought it through in her head. She could have fought back if she wanted to, but she didn't."
"And I think that's, you know, it's good for her characters. She's one of those characters that does her scheming in her mind, not outwardly," Sophie added.
Turner isn't the only one who has defended the infamous rape scene in that sixth "Game of Thrones" episode for its fifth season. Back in May, many fans approached George R.R. Martin asking for a comment regarding the scene.
Martin writes the books from which the show is based, but ultimately argues that the show has ultimately been different from the books since the first season.
Little changes have altered the way the same story is being told. He warns, "Sometimes butterflies grow into dragons," referencing both his books and his "butterfly effect" theory on how HBO is making the changes onto the plot.
Watch Sophie Turner address the scene at the Comic-Con panel below.
