Joan
The ITV miniseriesJoanstars the eponymous Joan Hannington , a prolific precious stone stealer in London during the 1980s , and the six - sequence show hews pretty closely to the real story . StarringSophie Turner in one of her grownup roles sinceGame of Thrones , Joanpremiered on September 29 , 2024 , adapting Hannington ’s 2002 memoir , I Am What I Am : The True Story of Britain ’s Most infamous Jewel Thief . With an 80 % onRotten Tomatoes , Joanhas been brusquely celebrated by critic , with finical praise going towards Turner ’s performance .
One of the most exciting parts ofthe True Crime TV showcomes from knowing most of it happened in real life . Joandoes an impressive job weaving in the facts of the real storey with fascinating detail , and some great striking acting and storytelling . The show fall out Joan ’s life sentence from her early years as a penniless mother bet for any mode to support her small family unit , to the height of her succeeder , wear fur coats and driving around expensive car . verity may be strange than fable inJune , but fiction is still a bright fun time .
Joan Hannington Was A Real Life Jewel Thief In 1980s London
Hannington Escaped Two Abusive Households To Protect Herself And Her Daughter
Joan Hannington ( née O’Connell ) , the eponymous " Joan " of the series , was indeed a real - animation jewel stealer who engage during the 1980s in London ( viaPeople ) . Once touch on to herself as " Britain ’s most notorious jewel stealer , " Hannington ’s living has always been something that would have made an first-class adaptation . When Hannington was 13 , she ran aside from home and her five siblings , allegedly scarper her physically abusive father in doing so ( viaCosmopolitan ) .
Sophie Turner is arguably best known for her work as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones , but following the series ' last , one movie role stands out .
She wound up getting married to convicted armed robber Ray Pavey , named Gary ( Nick Blood ) in the show , and the two had a daughter , Debbie , make Kelly ( Mia Millichamp - Long ) inJoan . Pavey and Hannington eventually split , as Pavey was allegedly growing more abusive , but their girl was sent to foster fear . In Holy Order to turn her life around and regain custody of her girl , Joan apply for a business at a high - class jeweler in London ’s West remainder , lying about her minor criminal story to land the problem ( viaTheSun ) .
Sophie Turner Plays Joan In The Miniseries
This Is Turner’s Best Role Since Playing Sansa On Game Of Thrones
Sophie Turner , who had not done much save forappear as Jean Greyin a forgettable instalment of theX - Menfranchise , Dark Phoenix , star as Joan Hannington in the series , proving why she capably hold upGame of Thrones , in particular towards the later seasons of the show . It ’s a rich part and one that Turner is capable to enwrap her hand around easy . She can play all facets of the character , from Hannington ’s fear in the cheek of turn a loss her girl , to her bewildering trust when it comes to criminalness .
Turner went through her own hard divorce and child custody issues with her former husband , Joe Jonas ( viaBBC ) . So Turner always understood the core of the character and why Hannington make up one’s mind to deform to stealing , saying ( viaHarpersBazaar ) ,
" Joan , at her core , is a mother who bonk her child and will do anything for her . I think any mother who watch it will be able to relate to it . "
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Hannington was pleased with Turner ’s portrayal , saying ,
" [ Turner had ] done a wonderful job … I hope the populace will be as glad with the series as I am . "
It ’s a part that requires an intimate knowledge of maternity to get exactly veracious , and Turner has that history to draw from .
Joan follows a penniless mother who makes an impulsive decision at the jewellery shop where she works, leading her into an entirely different world.
What Joan Gets Right And Wrong About The True Story Of Joan Hannington
Joan Sticks Closely To The Real Story Of Joan Hannington
For the most part , Joandoes an precise job portray the real story of Joan Hannington . The only major difference comes in the first episode of the series , which depicts Joan ’s first theft . InJoan , Hannington steal the diamond and quits her job on the spot . In realism , she stand by around for a few months afterward , dedicate some more thefts for good amount . Hannington describes that first theft in her 2024 Holy Writ , Joan ,
" One Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , I was send to the secure at the back of the shop , where the CCTV cameras did n’t operate , to collect some loose diamonds . I opened the safe and trays of magnificent ashen Stone glittered back at me . My heart galloping , I grab a handful of diamond off each tray and swallowed them . I did n’t screw it at the time , but I ’d immerse about £ 800,000 of stones . "
When Hannigton passed the Harlan Stone through her system , she hygienise them in a bowling ball of gin and the jeweller was none the wiser . From that point on , Hannington ’s story and the one inJoanare more or less the same . Screenwriter Anna Symon meet with Hannington while writing the showand say she used some specific history from the fair sex ’s past to help craft the series ,
" I aim a lot of anecdotes from the Bible , but I really hope — and I think I did from Joan ’s reaction when she learn it—[we ] capture the emotional truth of her as a fictional character , and I could then use that truth and that spirit of Joan but turn it into what I hope is a compelling , flirt with television serial . "
It was a few months after her first robbery that Hannington match the oldtimer dealer and skilled stealer , Boise Hannington ( Frank Dillane ) . Though 17 years her senior , Boise and Joan began a Romance language that was also a teacher / scholar relationship as Boise teach Joan all the finer points of fence jewellery . The better half - in - law-breaking combat injury up forming a multi - million dollar criminal go-ahead that was establish on cite carte du jour fraud , check-out procedure counterfeiting , and the geezerhood - old trick of Joan swallowing jewellery and replacing it with fakes in the store .
Hannington arrogate she at one point owned 11 pelt coats and 2,000 pairs of shoes .
As depicted in the show , Joan went to jail twice , once for using a steal checkbook and another clock time for stealing a car to visit her daughter in foster care . She and Boise hook up with when Joan was 24 , but the married couple would not last long as their crimes eventually caught up to them . Boise was killed in an burst while allegedly attempting to burn down a housefor indemnity money . Hannington decided that she necessitate to exit the reprehensible life , in part because of the nascency of her Logos Benny , who she and Boise welcomed in 1987 .
Where Is Joan Hannington Now?
Joan Now Lives On The South Coast Of England
These days , Joan Hannington is enjoying a much simpler life . Sadly , she never regained custody of her daughter Debbie , but she ’s set out afresh after serving metre for her jewel thieving . Hannington now lives on the south slide of England with her two detent and remains close with Benny , as well as Benny ’s girl . She still endure from ulcers after age of swallow diamond ( viaLuxuryLondon ) . It ’s been a whirlwind life for Joan Hannington and , thanks toJoan , audiences everywhere can have a little penchant of what that life was like .
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Joan follows a penniless mother who create an unprompted decision at the jewellery shop where she form , lead her into an entirely dissimilar world .