Game Of Thrones vet recalls having psychotic breakdown while in wellness cult that led to bipolar diagnosis

Game Of Thrones alum Hannah Murray opened up about having a psychotic breakdown after joining a wellness cult and how it later led her to bipolar disorder diagnosis. 

The 36-year-old British actress, who played Gilly on the hit HBO fantasy series, got candid about the experience during an interview with The Guardian published on Saturday. 

She also dives deeper into the topic in her upcoming book titled The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness which hits shelves next month on June 23. 

The star talked to the outlet about being drawn into the organization in her late 20s and its effect on her mental health.

'It's easy to go, "Well, that would never happen to me," but we do ourselves a disservice when we start saying that, because you don't know,' Murray expressed. 

'I had no idea I was going to go through any of the things in the book. I would've assumed I couldn't, that I was safe.' 

The star further said that she was educated and born into a middle-class family, adding 'everything should have been fine.'

'I thought, "I'm smart. I make good choices." Well, I made terrible choices.' 

Murray continued that 'it's important to understand why people do these things, rather than going, "Oh, they must be idiots." Or, "How stupid could you be?"' 

She was first introduced to an 'energy healer,' who Murray refers to as Grace, through her own personal trainer while on set of the 2017 film Detroit. 

The actress soon would undergo lessons and classes that came at a price as she took steps towards 'healing.'

And because Murray had met the 'energy healer' through someone on set, she had trust in Grace and did not doubt her legitimacy at the time.  

The star later returned to the U.K. where she was put in contact with another woman and took more classes. 

The woman would discuss a variety of topics including shamanic and Kabbalistic rituals, salt baths, magic circles as well as higher selves. 

Murray later met the man at the top of the wellness cult after undergoing a certain number of pricy classes. 

After meeting the man named Steve, the actress explained to the outlet about 'going through psychosis.' 

'My brain was a cocktail of those stories, this idea that I had discovered the truth, which was that I had this incredible destiny.'

She added, 'I was going to save the world. I could fly. Not to say that those stories are bad or anything. I just think we are fed on a diet that makes us want this.' 

Murray described Steve as being 'so confident' who 'exuded power.' 

But during a course at a London hotel, she recalled her behavior becoming more manic and erratic. 

At one moment, Murray remembered suffering immense pain in her head, so much so that it had felt like she was 'giving birth through my skull.' 

She went to a bathroom stall and was soon surrounded by other members who chanted at her, saying, 'Be gone, evil spirit in Hannah.'

And despite what she had been going through at the time, the star admitted a part of her knew it was 'f***ing hilarious.'

Someone in her life eventually called for help and Murray was admitted into a hospital for 28 days under the Mental Health Act.

Murray also received her bipolar disorder diagnosis which she revealed had been a 'relief.' 

While on the topic of her book and mental health, the star said that 'there's such a taboo around the idea of people who are sectioned. They are beyond the pale. 

'It felt really important to say, "I went through this." Lots of people go through this. That doesn't mean they are bad or f***ed up for ever.' 

Murray's memoir was first announced back in 2024. 

She said at the time that the book, 'Tells a deeply personal story that has lived inside me for many years and which it now feels vital to share.' 

The Bookseller had also reported that Hutchinson Heinemann would be releasing the autobiography in 2026. 

Murray began her acting career when she was cast as Cassie in the E4 teen drama series Skins. 

She also appeared in other projects such as Chatroom (2010), Wings (2011) and God Help The Girl (2014). 

From season two through eight of Game Of Thrones, she portrayed the character of Gilly on the HBO series. 

Her last acting credit was in the 2020 series Expecting. Murray previously revealed that she took a break away from acting to complete an English Literature degree at Queens College while attending Cambridge University.