Hannah Murray, best known for her role as Cassie in the teen drama Skins and as Gilly in the blockbuster series Game of Thrones, has made a significant life change by stepping away from her acting career. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Murray elucidated her reasons for this decision and discussed her forthcoming memoir, The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness, which is set to be released on 23 June 2025.
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The actress, now 36, revealed that her experience in the entertainment industry ultimately felt overwhelming. She recounted how the pressure of fame, coupled with her personal struggles, contributed to her decision to leave Hollywood behind. “I often think, ‘Thank God I don’t act any more,'” she stated, expressing relief at having exited that phase of her life. Looking back, she said that the mere idea of no longer being an actor brings her a sense of joy.
Murray’s journey into acting began at the young age of 11 after she was captivated by a play featuring woodland creatures and aliens. By 16, she had successfully auditioned for the role of Cassie, which debuted on Skins when she turned 17. The show quickly gained a substantial following, not just in the UK but also establishing a cult status in the US. During her time on Skins, Murray’s character addressed significant issues, such as eating disorders, which resonated with many viewers but also exposed her to harsh opinions online. “It was horrible, like the sewer of the internet,” she remarked, highlighting the negative feedback she received amidst the admiration.
Continuing her academic pursuits at Cambridge, she balanced her studies with acting commitments, starring in multiple films while maintaining her coursework. However, behind the façade of success, Murray was grappling with undiagnosed mental health issues. She later received a bipolar disorder diagnosis, which she described as a relief, offering her a new perspective on her emotional struggles. “I felt I wasn’t entitled to feel as sad as I did,” she reflected, acknowledging the internal conflict of feeling grateful for her career while experiencing profound sadness.
As her career progressed, notably with her role in Game of Thrones starting in 2012, Murray began to encounter not just heightened fame but also a sense of entitlement from fans. During this time, she found herself engaging in detrimental behaviours, including excessive drinking and drug use. “Being chosen for a role makes you feel incredibly special,” she explained, acknowledging her struggle to find lasting gratification in the ephemeral nature of acting success.
Murray’s memoir seeks to encapsulate her tumultuous journey, exploring how her quest for better emotional health led her to join a wellness cult and subsequently suffer a psychotic episode. After this challenging period and her diagnosis, she decided to permanently withdraw from acting, with her last film being 2018’s Charlie Says, which focused on the infamous Manson Family.
In discussing her memoir, Murray shared her pride in what she has created over seven years. She described the writing process as empowering and expressed excitement about sharing her narrative with readers. “The events of The Make-Believe were intensely challenging to live through, but the journey of writing about them has been the most powerfully rewarding thing I’ve ever known,” she stated.
Murray’s forthcoming book promises to be an insightful look into the complexities of fame, the struggles with mental health, and the personal growth that can emerge from facing one’s darkest moments. It aims to not only recount her experiences but also to reclaim her narrative in a world where public personas often overshadow individual experiences. The Make-Believe is now available for preorder, positioning Murray to open up a conversation about mental health and the unseen pressures of fame.