September 29th 2024.
Joan Hannington recently opened up about her experience being portrayed by Sophie Turner in the new true-crime series on ITV. The show, set in the 80s, is inspired by Joan's own life as a successful diamond thief and author of I am What I am: The True Story of Britain's Most Notorious Jewel Thief.
At 68 years old, Joan was once known as "the Godmother" and was one of the most successful diamond thieves in Britain during the 80s. Now, she is portrayed by Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner in the highly anticipated miniseries.
During a Q&A panel for the show, Joan admitted that she had no idea who Sophie was when she was cast in the role. She said, "I'd never seen Sophie in anything because I'm in bed at seven o'clock every night of my life. I'm addicted to TikTok, so I don't watch much TV. But they couldn't have gotten anyone better for the role."
Sophie herself has described the role as "the thrill of [her] lifetime" and has been praised by Joan for her portrayal. The real Joan, now in her 60s, also revealed that she was unfamiliar with the rest of the cast, including Frank Dillane who plays her husband Boisie Hannington.
Despite initially feeling a bit jealous of Sophie's youth and beauty, Joan has nothing but admiration for the actress and the entire cast. She even had a hand in creating the series, ensuring that it accurately portrayed her life and experiences.
In a sweet twist, Joan's son, known as Benny Banks, even has a cameo in one of the scenes where Joan and Boisie meet for the first time. Sophie shared that it was "amazing" to have him there and hang out with him on set.
But who is the real Joan Hannington? She released her tell-all book in the early 2000s, revealing her upbringing as the youngest of six children who left school at age 13 and married her first husband, Ray Pavey, at a young age. She had her first daughter, Debbie, when she was 18 and placed her in foster care while her husband was in prison.
It wasn't until she stole a car in order to visit her daughter that she was caught by the police, marking her first crime. After her first husband and her separated, Joan became a jewel thief when she swallowed £800,000 worth of diamonds from the jewelry shop where she worked. She secured the job with fake references, as depicted in the show.
The series also focuses on Joan's romance with Boisie Hannington, her husband of eight years who she was with for a total of 11 years. In her book, she described him as the best fence, thief, jeweler, and antiques dealer. Together, they handled millions of pounds in stolen goods during the 80s.
But despite the glamorous life of a jewel thief, Joan retired from her life of crime after Boisie's tragic death in an arson attack. Sophie has described playing such a multifaceted and complex character as "the thrill of [her] career," and she was able to relate to Joan's motivation as a mother herself.
Sophie explained, "She [Joan] really is so much in one person. And I just felt it. It was the biggest treat to be able to play her. And it's just remarkable that it's all a true story – or inspired by!"
The show not only features an impressive cast but also has the approval of the real Joan Hannington, who had a hand in creating it. "Kudos to Madame," she said, praising Sophie's performance. Joan's story will be brought to life on Sunday, September 29 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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