Hannah Murray, known for her role as Gilly in “Game of Thrones,” recently shared her troubling experience with a wellness cult in an interview with The Guardian. This exposure happened as she navigated the challenges of young fame. She is set to release her memoir, “The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness,” delving into the details of how she escaped the cult.
Murray emphasized the lack of critical thinking regarding the wellness industry, which can sometimes lead individuals down dangerous paths. She explained that anyone could fall into such traps, saying, “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.”
Despite her education and background, Murray found herself caught in the belief that she was making smart choices, only to realize later the mistakes she had made. Murray stressed the importance of understanding why people make these choices rather than labeling them as foolish.
Murray stated, “I thought, ‘I’m smart. I make good choices.’ Well, I made terrible choices.”
The actress encountered the cult through an energy healer she met while working on the 2017 film “Detroit.” The film’s intense subject matter left her seeking support, leading her to an energy healer named Grace. Initially, she attended a $150 “healing” session, which gradually pulled her further into the organization.
Murray experienced a vulnerable period, explaining that Grace introduced her to concepts like bringing “light” into her body and activating “spiritual DNA.” Her fascination with discovering a magical world beneath reality drove her deeper into this belief system.
Eventually, Murray met the cult leader, referred to as Steve. She described him as exuding a power she had never witnessed before, likening him to a magician.
Her breaking point happened during a five-day course in London, where she suffered a psychotic break later diagnosed as bipolar disorder. While in the midst of hallucinations, she felt as though she was “giving birth through my skull.” The organization’s members surrounded her, chanting to exorcise an evil spirit. This led to her hospitalization for 28 days under the Mental Health Act.
Today, Murray has stepped away from acting and remains skeptical of wellness practices. Discussing mental health, she highlighted the societal comfort with addressing anxiety and depression while noting a stigma around those who are sectioned. She underscored the importance of acknowledgment, stating, “I went through this. Lots of people go through this. That doesn’t mean they are bad or f—ed up forever.”