EXCLUSIVE: British Game of Thrones actress Josephine Gillan vows to get her ‘kidnapped’ baby back from Israeli social services and accuses officials of sedating her and forcing her into a mental health unit

• Game of Thrones star Josephine Gillan says Israeli social services took her baby  
• Eight-month-old was in care of a friend when she was taken in middle of night 
• Speaking for the first time, she vowed to get her baby back from Israeli services
• She accused officials of giving her ‘powerful sedatives’ before taking her child  
• The 31-year-old British actress starred as prostitute Marei in the hit HBO series
• Israeli authorities say that  a baby’s best interest is what leads any action taken 

Game of Thrones star Josephine Gillan has vowed to get her ‘kidnapped’ baby back from Israeli social services as she speaks for the first since revealing the dramatic moment her eight-month-old was taken away.

Gillan told MailOnline ‘no mother should be without their child’ as she sets out her plan to win back custody of Gloria.

Yesterday, it was revealed Israeli social services swooped in the middle of the night while she was receiving treatment for post-natal depression. 

The British star, 31, who played Marei the prostitute in the smash hit fantasy drama, claims she was forced into a mental health unit by Israeli officials and given ‘powerful sedatives’ while her baby was cared for by a friend.

Baby Gloria has now been placed with foster parents.  

Game of Thrones star Josephine Gillan has vowed to get her ‘kidnapped’ baby back from Israeli social services after saying she feels ‘stronger every day’ and ‘no mother should be without their child’ 

Speaking for the first time, she told MailOnline Israeli officials forced her into a mental health unit and gave her powerful sedatives before ‘kidnapping’ her baby in the middle of the night while the infant was being looked after by a friend

The British star, 31, (right) who played Marei the prostitute in the smash hit fantasy drama made the accusations yesterday. Baby Gloria has now been placed with foster parents

Gillan said: ‘I’m feeling stronger every day and I will get my daughter back. No mother should be without their child.’ 

The star, who was a sex worker before she got the job in the HBO blockbuster series, has been living in Israel since last year.

She is Jewish and qualifies for Israeli citizenship through her mother Maxine. 

Last December, Josephine gave birth to her first child near her home in the city of Safed in the north of Israel.

Although she was overjoyed and smitten straight away, but post-natal depression hit four months in.

The red-headed actress, who has a history of mental illness, said she was forced to attend a hospital with 40 male and female patients and she was given powerful drugs to keep her sedated. 

She added she was forced to sleep in a room with four other woman for three weeks. 

Gillan said: ‘I’m feeling stronger every day and I will get my daughter back. No mother should be without their child.’ The star, who was a sex worker before she got the job in the HBO blockbuster series, has been living in Israel since last year 

Last December, Josephine (pictured in Game of Thrones)  gave birth to her first child near her home in the city of Safed in the north of Israel. Although she was overjoyed and smitten straight away, post-natal depression hit four months in

‘It was an awful place where you weren’t even allowed to smile because if you looked happy, the authorities didn’t think you were sedated enough’ she told MailOnline.

‘I was given medication that they knew I was allergic to and often the dosages were administered without any records being kept. 

‘I’d left Britain when I pregnant because I feared my child would be taken away by social services due to my troubled past with abuse, mental health issues and suicidal thoughts’ she added.

‘The authorities in the UK alerted those in Israel so when I gave birth in December last year, the local social workers came to see me right away. 

‘But there were no problems at all, I was a good mum and happy. Gloria was four-months-old when I started to suffer post natal depression. I was told that I had to seek help at what I thought would be a small specialist clinic dedicated to my needs’.

Speaking of the her treatment in hospital, she added:  ‘What it actually was a mental health hospital in northern Israel with about 40 patients – half of them being men.  I had to sleep in a bedroom with four other women and the hospital had just one toilet for 20 women

‘I had to stay there for about three weeks until I was allowed home but my mind was completely frazzled with all the medication they’d made me take. 

‘It got so bad that I couldn’t think straight as my judgement was seriously impaired. I couldn’t walk or talk properly.’ 

The red-headed actress, who has a history of mental illness, said she was forced to attend a hospital with 40 male and female patients and she was given powerful drugs to keep her sedated

While she had been receiving treatment, a court order ensured that Gloria had to be in the care of one of Josephine’s friends. 

She was able to still see her daughter but only by agreeing any meeting first with social services. 

Two months ago, Josephine flew to Britain to see family in Margate, Kent but suffered an epileptic fit and collapsed at Luton Airport. 

She spent a few weeks receiving care in London but medics were too worried about her mental health to give her a ‘fit-to-fly letter’.

With all UK airports off limits she ended up smuggling herself out of the country on board a ferry into Calais in France, where she flew to Tel Aviv from Paris.

‘It was an awful place where you weren’t even allowed to smile because if you looked happy, the authorities didn’t think you were sedated enough’ she told MailOnline. ‘I was given medication that they knew I was allergic to and often the dosages were administered without any records being kept’ she added 

She said: ‘The problem I had was the doctors in Britain hadn’t seen me since I was pregnant so their records were out of date. 

‘The first thing they did was to get rid of all the medication the Israelis had given me and to throw it all away. They said it was lucky that I was still alive. 

‘I was kept under observation at a hospital in London for a few weeks but I knew I was okay and I had to get back to fight to get my daughter back. 

‘I saw a Rabbi in Britain and confided in him and he said that I needed to go back home and he advised me to take the ferry from Dover. 

Speaking of the her treatment in hospital, she added: ‘What it actually was a mental health hospital in northern Israel with about 40 patients – half of them being men. I had to sleep in a bedroom with four other women and the hospital had just one toilet for 20 women ‘I had to stay there for about three weeks until I was allowed home but my mind was completely frazzled with all the medication they’d made me take’ 

‘So I did just that, using my Israeli passport I sailed to Calais and then flew back to Israel’.

When she returned, Josephine was informed that steps had already been taken to take Gloria into the care of a foster family. 

That became a reality last week when social services called at her friend’s home and, flanked by police officers, took Gloria away. 

The dramatic operation, which took place at 12.30am, was captured in mobile phone footage that Josephine made public on Wednesday. 

She now has a lawyer and has appealed via her GoFundMe page for donations to help pay for her case. 

An appeal has been lodged by her legal representative, Yossi Nakar, and is due to be heard at the District Court of Nazareth on Sunday.

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. 

Josephine added: ‘I’m not depressed any more, each day I’m getting mentally stronger. 

‘The authorities have taken my baby daughter away for no good reason. 

‘I have shown her nothing but love. I haven’t harmed her in any way. 

‘I’ve had a rough past and I did suffer from post-natal depression, which I’ve battled hard to overcome. 

‘It seems to me that the Israeli social services deliberately target vulnerable single women to take their children away – it’s a form of kidnap plain and simple.’

Josephine said that Gloria’s father, who lives in Britain, is being kept fully updated with proceedings. 

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’.

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’. 

She made no mention of the baby’s father in a series of online posts about her ordeal. 

A GoFundMe page Gillan, who was born in Kent, set up to help with legal costs had raised just a few hundred of its £5000 goal on Thursday afternoon.  

Before appearing in GoT, making several appearance right through to series eight, she earned her living as a sex worker and starring in porn movies.

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

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

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. 

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.   

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

‘I just want to be with my baby again’: Heartbroken actress plea for help with legal battle

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. In a post, she said she had been left ‘heartbroken’ and that all she wants is ‘to see and be with my baby girl again’.

Here is her post in full: 

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.

I came to Israel to have my baby, my beloved daughter is almost 8 months old, I raised and cared for her from birth. When she was 5 months old the Israeli social services decided my baby should stay with my friend while I go to therepy [sic] for post natal depression, my friend has been amazing and her and her amazing family love and cares for my daughter Gloria with a true love to me and her.

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! It’s absolutely outrageous! 

I have not done anything wrong and neither has my friend who was caring from her! 

They threatened to take my friend to jail if she doesn’t give our Gloria! 

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.

‘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.’ 

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