“Game of Thrones” actress Josephine Gillan, who played prostitute Marei in the hit fantasy drama, has appealed to the public for help after Israeli child welfare officials took away her 8-month old daughter, Gloria.
The 31-year-old British-Israeli actress said her baby had been living with a friend since she was 5 months old, according to a decision of the Israeli social services, while she was being treated for postnatal depression, according to People.
“I’m not currently working [on Game of Thrones] as it’s finished now and I’ve been busy with motherhood,” she wrote on a GoFundMe account she launched shortly after the Aug. 4 incident. “I came to Israel to have my baby … I raised and cared for her from birth.”
“My friend has been amazing and [she] and her amazing family loves and care for my daughter Gloria with a true love to me and her,” she continued in her appeal for help with her mounting legal costs.
“I’m not allowed to see her or have contact! I have no idea where she is!!” she said. “I was not there at the time and was not aware of what they had done! It’s absolutely outrageous!”
Gillan also claimed police threatened to thrown her friend in jail if she did not surrender Gloria to officials.
“They marched her out with police [on] either side of her and took her away into the night!” the actress wrote.
She also shared a video she says was recorded as the Israeli authorities were at her friend’s home.
“The disturbing moment that the #Israeli #socialservices kidnapped my baby!” she captioned the footage on Twitter. “We are all heartbroken! #IsraeliCrimes #unjust”
“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!!!” she said in a separate tweet.
The officials who removed Gloria from the home were reportedly acting on a court order and placed Gloria in foster care temporarily, insisting it was in the baby’s best interest, according to the Independent.
The Israeli Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services said the case was being handled by multiple departments including the ministry’s international department, which was in touch with British welfare authorities.
“Our only priority is the welfare of the baby and we are trying to find the best solution,” the ministry told The Times of Israel, declining to comment on the specifics of the situation to protect the baby’s privacy.
Gillan, who portrayed the character of Marei beginning in 2012, worked as a real prostitute before entering acting — something she has previously spoken candidly about.
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