Natalie Dormer pointed out to me last week that Margaery has a freedom many women lack because her family is run by a woman. Now Sansa’s been sucked into that dynamic.

Sophie Turner: Yeah, and it’s very refreshing to see Sansa kind of sucked into that as well, because all her life, really, she’s been surrounded by men. I mean, apart from her mother. Even Arya has this very boyish, tomboyish way about her. I think that’s partly the appeal of Olenna and Margaery – they’re so alike to Sansa in that way that she feels this connection with them, this bond with them. Because she’s such a strong individual female joining the ranks of Olenna and Margaery, both incredibly strong, it works. It’s a very powerful threesome, I feel.

I’m glad to hear you use the word “strong.” It’s probably kind of important to reclaim the concept of “strong female characters” from characters who can physically kick your ass to simply mean female characters who are strongly written.

Sophie Turner: I think the strong thing about Sansa is the fact that she doesn’t fight. Fighting alone can be seen as a very strong thing to do, but the fact that she doesn’t fight and she doesn’t strike back is probably her best trait. Having to resist the urge to fight back – which, you know, I’m sure she has – is in itself one of the best things about her. In that sense, she’s very strong, and she’s very strong-willed, and she has willpower. That’s very important in this world, because if someone had fought back they’d be dead. Because … Joffrey. [Laughs]