Kit Harington is an English-born actor who rose to fame playing Jon Snow on the groundbreaking TV show Game of Thrones. Harrington is an atypical celebrity in that he tends to avoid the spotlight when possible, and prefers to keep the focus on his craft. Still, he opens up on occasion, and in a recent interview, the pensive actor talked about growing up in a household where he felt free to be whomever he wanted to be and was comfortable playing with dolls.
How did Kit Harington become an actor?
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Harington was born in England in 1986. At birth, he was given the name Christopher Catesby Harington, which he later shortened to Kit.
Raised in a prestigious family with ties to English nobility, Harington first became interested in acting when he was a teenager. He started performing in school productions, gaining valuable experience. He determined to pursue a career in acting and went on to attend drama school, eventually moving to London after he graduated.
Harington first got some critical attention as a stage performer, appearing in plays such as War Horse. Reporters and audience members alike praised Harington’s dramatic abilities, and the young actor began auditioning for parts in television shows.
It wasn’t long before Harington scored the part that would provide him with his first big break — the role of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.
Kit Harington became a star on ‘Game of Thrones’
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Game of Thrones premiered on HBO in 2011, and right away, became one of the most buzz-worthy shows of the decade. Of all the talented performers on the show, such as Sean Bean and Richard Madden, Harington really made an impression, and his portrayal of intense, brooding Jon Snow quickly became a fan-favorite.
Over the years, Harington’s character rose to the forefront of the series. He received critical acclaim for his work on Game of Thrones and was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
He continued to appear on Game of Thrones through 2019 when the series ended. After the show went off the air, Harington found plenty of other projects to occupy his time, with his biggest project being the upcoming Marvel movie The Eternals.
What did Kit Harington say about playing with dolls as a child?
Harington created a fascinating character in Jon Snow, a hero who was able to combine grit, emotion, and bravery. In real life, Harington is also a complicated person.
Recently, he opened up about his childhood, revealing that he was raised in a gender-fluid environment. “I asked for a Mighty Max and she bought me a Polly Pocket. I asked for an Action Man and I got a doll — it was very gender-fluid from the word go. And I went with it,” Harington stated.
Harington also stated that he believes many men have a “blockage” emotionally speaking, due to the effects of World War II. “That blockage has come from the Second World War, passed down from grandfather to father to son,” Harington stated. “We do not speak about how we feel because it shows weakness, because it is not masculine. Having portrayed a man who was silent, who was heroic, I feel going forward that is a role I don’t want to play any more.”
For fans, it will be interesting to watch Harington’s career as he goes forward, and the types of characters that he chooses to play. For an actor who rose to fame playing an action hero, it will be a big change in his public image. But if anyone can do it, it’s someone as talented and open-minded as Harington.
