Sophie Turner Explains How Her Character Handles Pressure In New Amazon Studios Show ‘Steal’

Prime Video, Amazon’s streaming service, is releasing a new, exciting show called Steal. The series centers around a large-scale robbery at a very wealthy company. Starring Sophie Turner and Archie Madekwe as Zara and Luke, the show follows two employees caught up in the heist, and explores what happens to them afterward.

Zara and Luke react to pressure in very different ways, and that difference is central to their characters’ journeys throughout the series. Recently, TopMob spoke with Sophie Turner (known for her role in Game of Thrones) and Archie Madekwe to explore how their characters cope with intense stress.

You know, when I was listening to Turner talk about Zara, it really struck me how she deals with stress. It’s like she immediately jumps into problem-solving mode – trying to fix things, stay focused, keep everything afloat, and even appease others. It’s actually a really interesting coping mechanism, and Turner pointed out it can be both a strength and a weakness. Apparently, it all stems from her childhood; growing up with a mother who struggled with alcoholism and was also abusive left Zara feeling constantly on edge and never really secure.

According to Madekwe, Luke is quite different from Zara and is constantly focused on simply getting through each situation. He’s always just trying to cope, which often causes him to make poor choices and act impulsively rather than thinking things through.

We interviewed executive producers Rebecca De Souza and Greg Brennan, as well as the creator and writer of Steal, Sotiris Nikias. You can watch all the interviews below.

The new series Steal will debut on Amazon Prime Video—the same platform currently enjoying success with Season 2 of Fallout—on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

How the Leading Characters of Steal Handle Pressure

Zara and Luke Are Polar Opposites.

TopMob: “I want to talk about how both of your characters handle pressure, as they have polar opposites in that realm. Why do they handle stress in the way that they do?”

That’s a good question. With Zara, she tends to deal with stress by immediately trying to solve the problem, stay focused, maintain control, and appease others. This stems from her upbringing with an alcoholic and abusive mother, where she constantly had to stabilize situations and calm her mother down to prevent things from escalating. That’s why she reacts the way she does – it can be both helpful and problematic.

Archie Madekwe explained that Luke is very different from Zara. Unlike her, he’s constantly focused on just getting through each day. He starts out desperately wanting a better life, and then quickly shifts to simply trying to escape and survive. This puts him in a constant state of panic and overstimulation, which often causes him to make rash decisions based on instinct rather than logic. These impulsive choices usually backfire, highlighting why he initially believed he could handle everything alone and why he ultimately needs help.

What Sophie Turner and Archie Madekwe Added to Their Characters

“As Actors, You Create Your Own Little Secrets and Your Own False Memories.”

TopMob: “What is something that you guys both feel that you added to your characters that maybe wasn’t originally on the page, but you just found through your performance and an understanding of who that person is?”

Sophie Turner explains that as an actor, she develops personal details and imagined past experiences for her characters – things she keeps to herself. She always begins by creating a complete history for the character, including all the important events that shaped them. She then relies on that internal backstory to subtly inform her performance, hoping it adds depth and authenticity, even if it isn’t explicitly visible to the audience. Ultimately, building this backstory helps her fully embody the role.

When developing a character who goes through a big transformation, you create a lot of little moments along the way. It doesn’t really feel right to say ‘I came up with this or that’ because it’s truly a team effort. Everyone contributes ideas, and the best ones are used, regardless of who suggested them. That’s just how a collaborative process works – lots of different contributions are woven together. It really is a group effort, consistently.

Steal EPs on the Logistics of a Heist and If There Are Future Season Hopes

The Entire Story of ‘Steal’ Was Based on Personal Experience.

TopMob: “Can you talk about the research that you guys did to figure out how this could even go down in today’s world with the technology that exists?”

Sotiris Nikias shared that his previous job was at the company targeted in the first episode. He drew on his own experiences to make the story feel realistic. His research involved recalling how the company operated, identifying potential obstacles, and then imagining how criminals might overcome them.
It seems genuinely true, or at least I hope so. The strange thing is, these financial companies handle massive amounts of money daily – we’re talking billions moving around the world – yet their security measures are surprisingly weak.
Regular banks on the high street actually have stronger security, likely because they don’t hold as much money, making them a less obvious target. This creates a vulnerability because it’s something people don’t consider possible – a rare, unexpected event. Because no one plans for it, that lack of preparation is what allows it to happen. I was simply thinking through that logic.

TopMob: “The show puts a lot of focus on how people handle extreme pressure. Can you talk about how you guys balanced that throughout the wider roster of the show, and how you had characters reacting in wildly different ways, and why they did that?”

We really enjoy exploring characters – understanding their motivations, reactions, and who they are as people. Sotiris builds a great story with twists, turns, and clues, but it’s also about the human side – how these characters cope with incredible circumstances.
Zara and Luke are both at work when something unexpected happens. Luke’s reaction is particularly endearing – he’s visibly frightened and doesn’t know how to handle the situation, which comes across as charming. Despite being a large and confident person normally, he appears vulnerable and almost childlike, making you want to comfort him.
Zara is a bit lost and struggling, but throughout the story, she develops and learns to cope with her challenges, even helping a friend in need. The way characters respond to difficulties is just as crucial as the plot itself, and I think this story successfully combines strong character development with an engaging storyline, creating a really compelling narrative.

TopMob: “Have you guys had any conversations about what hypothetical long-term plans are for this show?”

Greg Brennan said they spent a lot of time discussing potential future storylines. Right now, though, they’re happy with the show having a clear ending and being designed as a limited series. However, they have considered what might happen to characters like Zara under different circumstances.

The full video interview can be viewed below:

2026-01-06 20:37