Sophie Turner Looks Unrecognizable 14 Years After ‘Game of Thrones’ Debut

Sophie Turner recently debuted a dramatic new look at the Newport Beach Film Festival UK & IE Honours, held at Raffles in London on Thursday night. The actress turned heads as she stepped out with a rich “truffle brunette” hair transformation, a significant departure from her signature blonde.

For the star-studded event, she chose a dark green leather jacket and a matching mini skirt, which she paired with sleek black leather boots. The 29-year-old was all smiles as she accepted the Artist of Distinction award, an honor she shared with other prominent industry names like Sam Claflin and Timothy Spall.

The ceremony served as a brief break for Turner, who has spent the last week filming high-octane action sequences for the upcoming Tomb Raider series. Just days before the awards, she was spotted in Surrey performing a dramatic knife fight in the rain and escaping on a motorcycle with co-star Martin Bobb-Semple.

Sophie Turner photographed at the Newport Beach Film Festival UK & IE Honours 2026. 📷 pic.twitter.com/vog2DbLYGo

— GoldenSeries (@series_golden) February 19, 2026

Taking on the mantle of Lara Croft has been a physically demanding journey for the actress, who has been in intense training for over a year. She recently admitted that the process revealed she has a perpetual back problem, something she discovered during the grueling eight-hour daily workouts.

Despite the physical toll, she noted it has been quite nice to learn how to throw a punch rather than just being the one who gets beaten up, a playful nod to her years on Game of Thrones. Turner’s role as the iconic archaeologist follows in the legendary footsteps of Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander, but this new iteration is a television series for Amazon Prime Video.

Created by Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the project aims to bring a fresh, character-first perspective to the beloved franchise. Turner has expressed great confidence in the script, mentioning that the level of security surrounding the production is even crazier than Game of Thrones.

As of February, the series is officially in production and boasts an impressive ensemble cast beyond Turner herself. Martin Bobb-Semple joins the show as Zip, Lara’s trusted tech support and friend, while Jason Isaacs has been cast as Lara’s uncle, Atlas DeMornay.

Perhaps most exciting for fans is the inclusion of Sigourney Weaver, who will play a mysterious woman named Evelyn Wallis, a character keen on exploiting Lara’s unique talents. Beyond her work as the new Lara Croft, Turner has a busy schedule that showcases her versatility.

She is set to star in the upcoming thriller Steal, where she plays a master thief named Zara Dunne, and will appear in the period drama The Dreadful. She also recently received praise for her lead performance in the crime drama Joan, where she portrayed the real-life diamond thief Joan Hannington.

Between her high-fashion red carpet appearances and her transformation into a globe-trotting action hero, Turner is solidifying her status as one of the hardest-working actresses of her generation.

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