Hannah Murray’s Experience with Wellness Cult and Mental Health

Hannah Murray, known for her role as Gilly in “Game of Thrones,” shared her troubling encounter with a wellness cult. In an interview with The Guardian, she discussed how her involvement led to a severe psychotic break. Murray is preparing for the release of her book, “The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness,” where she delves into her experiences and how she escaped the influence of the organization.

“There’s insufficient critical thinking about wellness, especially as it becomes an industry,” Murray stated. She warned against assuming such situations are avoidable, saying, “it’s easy to think, ‘Well, that would never happen to me,’ but this mindset is unhelpful.” Despite her education and upbringing, Murray found herself making poor choices, which she believes need to be understood rather than judged.

Murray’s initial introduction to the cult came from an “energy healer” she met during the filming of the 2017 movie “Detroit.” The film’s intense subject matter weighed on her, prompting her to seek guidance from the healer, Grace. What started as a $150 healing session quickly led Murray to participate in more classes with the organization.

At the time, Murray was vulnerable, and Grace’s discussions of “light,” “spiritual DNA,” and “ancient tools” captivated her. “The idea of discovering a magical world beneath ours fascinated me,” Murray explained. During her psychosis, these ideas fueled fantasies of a destiny to save the world.

Eventually, Murray encountered the cult’s leader, whom she called Steve. She described him as exuding a unique and intimidating power. This meeting marked a turning point, with Murray experiencing a psychotic episode during a five-day course in London, where members surrounded her, chanting against supposed evil spirits.

The episode led to her hospitalization under the Mental Health Act, where she received a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Now, Murray refrains from acting and approaches wellness topics with caution.

Murray emphasized the importance of discussing mental health openly, beyond anxiety and depression, addressing the stigma surrounding individuals who have been sectioned. “It felt essential to declare, ‘I went through this.'” She stressed that experiencing such challenges doesn’t make a person irreparably damaged.