‘Game of Thrones’ Star Reveals She Was in a Cult: ‘They Exploited Everyone

Cults are groups that often start by promising help, meaning, or personal growth, but can slowly become controlling or harmful. People from all kinds of backgrounds can get involved, sometimes without realizing how much influence the group has over their thoughts or decisions.

Many former members later speak out about manipulation, pressure, and the difficulty of leaving such groups.

Actress Hannah Murray, known for her role in Game of Thrones, has spoken openly about a difficult part of her life involving a wellness group she now describes as harmful.

Murray said the situation began in 2017 after she met someone described as an “energy healer” while working on the film Detroit.

At first, it seemed like a normal introduction to alternative wellness ideas. But she explained that it slowly turned into something much deeper and more controlling. She said she never thought she would end up in a situation like that. She explained, “It’s easy to go, ‘That would never happen to me.’ I thought I was smart and made good choices. But I made terrible choices.”

Over time, Murray said she became more involved in the group. She was drawn in by promises of personal insight, healing, and a sense of meaning. She also said she spent large amounts of money while trying to understand herself through the group’s teachings. According to her, the environment became uncomfortable, especially because of the behavior of the group’s leader, who often made sexual jokes and created what she described as an intense atmosphere.

She said the space felt “highly eroticized,” even though there was no physical abuse reported. The group’s influence grew stronger as she attended more sessions and courses, and she became more isolated in her thinking. This period of her life became increasingly unstable for her.

At one point, during a five-day retreat in London, Murray suffered a severe mental health crisis. She experienced hallucinations and heard voices. She was later hospitalized under the Mental Health Act for nearly a month. After this, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Murray said that this breakdown was the turning point in her life. She now sees that time as something that deeply affected her mental health and sense of reality. The information about her hospitalization and diagnosis has been reported by Page Six and other outlets covering her interview.

In her new memoir, The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness, set for release on June 23, she explains her experience in more detail. She said she wants people to understand how easily someone can be pulled into harmful groups, even when they believe they are careful and intelligent.

She explained, “Lots of people go through this. That doesn’t mean they are bad or broken forever.”

Since leaving the group, Murray has stepped back from acting and has distanced herself from wellness spaces. She said she avoids practices like meditation and yoga because they remind her of that time and can bring back difficult feelings. She is careful about what she exposes herself to now.

Murray is best known for playing Gilly in Game of Thrones and Cassie Ainsworth in Skins. She said writing her memoir is her way of being honest about what happened and reducing shame around mental health struggles like psychosis and bipolar disorder.

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