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GoT actor says her baby was ‘kidnapped’ by Israeli social services

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GoT actor says her baby was ‘kidnapped’ by Israeli social services

Game of Thrones actress Josephine Gillan has claimed her baby has been ‘kidnapped’ by ‘sick and twisted’ social services in Israel.

The Briton, who starred as prostitute Marei in the hit series, said her eight-month-old daughter, Gloria, was taken away in the middle of the night while the infant was being looked after by a friend.

Distressing video uploaded by the heartbroken 31-year-old mother shows Gloria being taken away by a woman under the supervision of two men in uniform.

The child was in the care of her friend while Gillan underwent therapy for postnatal depression on the orders of social services. But despite that arrangement being approved by authorities, the actress claims, officials swooped and took the baby away. 

Gillan, who is Jewish, moved to Israel to have her baby shortly before she was born. She made no mention of the baby’s father in a series of online posts about her ordeal. 

Before appearing in GoT, Gillan, who was born in Kent, earned her living as a sex worker and in X-rated movies. But in 2016, she told the Mail On Sunday how the HBO show saved her from a life of prostitution, ironically playing a prostitute.

Gillan also revealed she suffered a childhood corrupted by sex abuse, alcohol and class-A drugs. She went to 24 different primary schools as her mother fled a violent relationship, and was taken into care at 12 and then fostered. 

Gillan (pictured with her daughter) spoke out about the incident on Twitter, saying she had been left heartbroken

‘I am Josephine Gillan and I’m an actress from the HBO series game of thrones, I’m not currently working as it’s finished now and I’ve been busy with motherhood,’ she wrote on the GoFundMe page

British-Israeli actor Gillan, who stars as Marei the prostitute in GoT, alleges her eight-month old daughter was taken away in the middle of the night by social workers

In the footage that she posted on Twitter, the person filming the incident can be heard arguing with the social workers, but to no avail.  

The group then get into a waiting car with the baby and make off into the night. 

Gillan spoke out about the incident on her social media, saying she had been left heartbroken. 

‘The disturbing moment that the #Israeli #socialservices kidnapped my baby! At 12:30pm at night on Sunday! My friend pleaded! But was threatened to jail if she did not hand over my baby! me & loving friend and her family! We are all heartbroken!’ she said. 

The GoT actress added: ‘Nothing but sick twisted #socialworkers #socialservices trying to ruin lives and separate a baby from its mother that hasn’t done anything wrong! They kidnapped my baby!!!’

The person filming the incident can be heard arguing with the social workers, but to no avail

A video uploaded by Gillan shows Gloria being taken away by a woman under the supervision of two men in uniform (pictured)

Gillan confirmed the incident on Twitter, saying she had been left heartbroken

According to Israeli media, one of the reasons Gillan moved to Israel was that she feared British welfare authorities would take away her child. 

‘Eight months ago she gave birth in Israel and began to raise her child under close supervision from the social services in her community and with the help of a friend,’ a Channel 12 report quoted a person familiar with the situation as saying. 

‘At a certain stage she left the baby with a friend and flew to the UK for an extended period, which caused the intervention of the welfare authorities and the courts.’ 

Gillan first appeared in the second series of the hit HBO series as an unnamed prostitute in Little Fingers’ brothel. She trains with a male prostitute on how to fake an orgasm by veteran Ros.  

She was recalled for season three and her character was subsequently given the name Marei. Alongside Kayla and Genna, she is one of the three prostitutes hired by Tyrion Lannister to service Podrick Payne as a reward for saving his life in the Blackwater. 

She reappeared in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth series. In season eight, her character Marei is hired by Ser Bronn along with Dirah and Craya.  

Gillan first appeared in the second series of the hit HBO series as an unnamed character. She was recalled for season three and her character was subsequently given the name Marei

Before appearing in GoT, Gillan earned her living as a prostitute and working in X-rated movies. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Gillan has previously described how Game of Thrones saved her from a life of prostitution

‘Game Of Thrones saved me from a life of prostitution, and has made me a much stronger person,’ she said. ‘I was working as a whore and at the same time making X-rated movies, using the name Sophie O’Brien, when I saw an advert on a website for actresses in the film industry

Before appearing in GoT, Gillan earned her living as a prostitute and working in X-rated movies. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Gillan has previously described how Game of Thrones saved her from a life of prostitution. 

‘Game Of Thrones saved me from a life of prostitution, and has made me a much stronger person,’ she said.

‘I was working as a whore and at the same time making X-rated movies, using the name Sophie O’Brien, when I saw an advert on a website for actresses in the film industry.

‘They were looking for young women with natural breasts and no tattoos, who didn’t mind being filmed naked. So I immediately sent in a picture.

‘They wrote back that they wanted me and I was thrilled because it was an amazing opportunity to do some proper acting. But I had no idea how much it would change my life.’

She is now in demand as a serious actress even though she had no professional training when she started the show – just a troubling understanding of the world she would be paid to depict. 

Gillan has since set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover the necessary legal costs in the battle to get her baby back. 

‘I am Josephine Gillan and I’m an actress from the HBO series game of thrones, I’m not currently working as it’s finished now and I’ve been busy with motherhood,’ she wrote on the fundraising page. 

‘3 nights ago the social services came in the night at 12:30am! With the police and kidnapped my daughter and took her to another family! I’m not allowed to see her or have contact! I have no idea where she is!! I was not there at the time and was not aware of what they had done!’

She added: ‘I have not done anything wrong and neither has my friend who was caring from her!’

How Game of Thrones rescued Josephine Gillan from a life of prostitution – by playing a prostitute

It’s the hit TV show watched by millions for its intricate plot lines, bellicose characters – and generous share of wild sex. 

But for actress Josephine Gillan, who plays the lithe, red-headed courtesan, the HBO hit-series show allowed her to escape from her life as a prostitute starring in X-rated films. 

Today, Gillan is demand as a serious actress even though she had no professional training when she started the show – just a troubling understanding of the world she would be paid to depict. 

‘Game Of Thrones saved me from a life of prostitution, and has made me a much stronger person,’ she told the Mail on Sunday in a candid interview in 2016.

For actress Josephine Gillan, who plays the lithe, red-headed courtesan, the HBO hit-series show allowed her to escape from her life as a prostitute starring in X-rated films.

‘I was working as a whore and at the same time making X-rated movies, using the name Sophie O’Brien, when I saw an advert on a website for actresses in the film industry.

‘They were looking for young women with natural breasts and no tattoos, who didn’t mind being filmed naked. So I immediately sent in a picture.

‘They wrote back that they wanted me and I was thrilled because it was an amazing opportunity to do some proper acting. But I had no idea how much it would change my life.’

Based on American author George R. R. Martin’s books, Game Of Thrones has become one of the most watched dramas on TV.

It has won 26 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, and attracts an average 8.6 million viewers for each episode.

Some have been troubled by the drama’s uninhibited approach: Josephine made her debut in series two as a novice prostitute being shown how to fake an orgasm.

Some have been troubled by the drama’s uninhibited approach: Josephine made her debut in series two as a novice prostitute being shown how to fake an orgasm

But she is in no doubt about the difference between the fantasy on screen and reality.

Josephine suffered a childhood corrupted by sex abuse, alcohol and class-A drugs. She went to 24 different primary schools as her mother fled a violent relationship, and was taken into care at 12 and then fostered.

‘They put me in a household where I was groomed by a family friend, who gave me cannabis and alcohol when I was 12 and got me hooked on cocaine when I was 14. He raped me two years later and then pimped me out to his friends.

‘I was too frightened to tell anyone because he threatened to bury me in the garden if I did. He said he’d done it before and I believed him,’ she says.

Her childhood experiences left her feeling unworthy of a proper relationship and she broke off an engagement and turned to prostitution to earn a living.

By the time she arrived on the Game Of Thrones set, she was understandably nervous, but quickly discovered there were several actresses from a similar background.

They appear as slave girls and prostitutes, parading naked, performing sex acts and taking part in orgies.

Josephine is determined to use the success of the series to further her career as she seeks more conventional roles.

By the time she arrived on the Game Of Thrones set, she was understandably nervous, but quickly discovered there were several actresses from a similar background

She has gone on to become one of the longest surviving characters in a series which routinely slaughters them by the dozen. 

Between scenes, slaves and brothel girls mix with lords and ladies.

Josephine says: ‘I remember one day a few of us girls from the brothel scenes had afternoon tea with Charles Dance – who played Lord Tywin Lannister – and he was so flirtatious. With so many people working together so closely you can imagine that there have been a few affairs, but I haven’t had one!

‘I spoke to Kit Harington [Jon Snow in the series] in the hair dressing trailer when he was complaining about having to get his brown hair dyed black. He was very chatty and all the girls were swooning in his presence. I’m not the only one who’s glad that he wasn’t killed off.’

The show has attracted international criticism for its depictions of rape, incest, murder and torture as well as louche sex. Josephine is keen to remind people it’s just a fantasy world. She says: ‘Watch the entertainment and enjoy. Or don’t if you’re too prudish.’

For her, that fantasy world has been the saviour of her real one. She credits the show with stopping her life spiralling out of control, and says it has allowed her to dream of a better future. 

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