A Game of Thrones actress who claimed her baby has been ‘kidnapped’ by ‘sick and twisted’ social services in Israel has now expressed worry that her eight-month-old daughter will be sold into child trafficking.
British national Josephine Gillan, who starred as prostitute Marei in the hit TV series, said baby Gloria, was taken away in the middle of the night while the infant was being looked after by a friend.
In a shocking new claim, she’s tweeted she’s ‘sick with worry’ her baby will be sold into trafficking and liked a series of tweets saying Israel was ‘barbaric’ and ‘racist’.
Distressing video uploaded by the heartbroken 31-year-old mother yesterday shows the baby being taken away by a woman under the supervision of two men in uniform.
Since gathering attention for the video yesterday, she has retweeted a user who said Israel has long legacy of kidnapping children, and accused the country of being a ‘terror state’ that ‘pretends to be a democracy’.
Gillan (pictured with her daughter) spoke out about the incident on Twitter, saying she had been left heartbroken
After posting the video yesterday, she liked a series of tweets calling the state ‘barbaric’ and ‘racist’. She also retweeted a user who said Israel has long legacy of kidnapping children, and accused the country of being a ‘terror state’ that ‘pretends to be a democracy’
Gillan added her own message saying ‘So sick that #israel takes babies! #CHILDTRAFFICKING’.
She also said she was ‘sick with worry’ for her ‘poor baby girl’ as she tweeted another message which read ‘sex traffickers are illegally seizing babies. They need the money #kids4cash to fund the enterprise. Baby blood on their hands. Sex trafficking kids is a billion dollar enterprise. End #CPS #ASFA #EndFamilyCourts #RecallHaight’.
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.
‘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
A GoFundMe page Gillan set up to help with legal costs had raised just £235 of its £5000 goal on Thursday morning.
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.
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 liked a series of tweets criticising Israel and calling it ‘barbaric’ with a history of kidnapping children
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
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 Petyr Baelish’s brothel.
She trains with a male prostitute on how to fake an orgasm by veteran Ros.
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
How Game of Thrones rescued Josephine Gillan from a life of prostitution – by playing a prostitute
It was 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 played 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.
‘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 became one of the most watched dramas on TV.
It won 26 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, and attracted 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 went 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 said: ‘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 attracted international criticism for its depictions of rape, incest, murder and torture as well as louche sex. Josephine was keen to remind people it’s just a fantasy world. She said: ‘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 credited the show with stopping her life spiralling out of control, and said it allowed her to dream of a better future.
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.
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.
Josephine Gillan has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover the necessary legal costs in the battle to get her baby back
‘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.’
A spokesman for Israel’s Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Social Services told the Jewish Chronicle: ‘Cases such as this are under complete confidentiality by law, therefore it is impossible to reveal identifying details.
‘Professional personnel of the ministry of labor, social care and social services are dealing with this complicated situation and our international unit is in touch with the ministry’s peers in the country of origin, with the judicial system and with all relevant factors.
‘The baby’s best interest is what leads any action taken by the ministry.’
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 claimed that she was ‘not allowed to see her or have contact’ and says she does not not where her daughter has been taken.
‘I was not there at the time and was not aware of what they had done! It’s absolutely outrageous! I have not done anything wrong and neither has my friend who was caring from her!
She claimed that officials threatened to jail her friend if she refused to hand over the infant.
‘They marched her out with police either side of her and took her away into the night. what Israeli social services have done is illegal and I’m fighting to get her back.
‘But unfortunately the legal costs I can’t afford right now. Good lawyers are costly but worth it for my baby to have a chance of happiness and love that she deserves!
‘So I’m reaching out for donations to please help raise enough money to bring her back to where she is safe and loved.
‘No child should be without there parent! Especially if they are good and care for the child devotedly!
I appreciate you reading this and please find it in your heart to help and also your prayers would mean alot also. I’m heartbroken at the moment and just want to see and be with my baby girl again.’