Game of Thrones star Kit Harington reveals the negative personal consequences that came with playing Jon Snow. Based on the books by author George R.R. Martin, the hit HBO fantasy first premiered in 2011, bringing the dangerous world of Westeros to life. The Game of Thrones cast featured a number of impressive actors and performances over the course of the show’s eight-year run, and Harington, as Snow, is one of the few actors to appear regularly across all eight seasons.
While starring in Game of Thrones may have helped put Harington on the map as an actor, he reveals during an interview with The Times that it had big repercussions on his life outside the show. Harington recalls key issues being the dichotomy between the character he was playing and his real personality, and his falling down the “dangerous rabbit hole” of reading online comments about his performance. These factors, and his addiction struggles, resulted in “kind of a breakdown” in 2019 when he was starring in Sam Shepard’s True West play. Read Harington’s full explanation below:
“People would treat me like the character, who was a hero and good. But in my life, personally I didn’t feel like that at all. And that, I think, [led to] some kind of psychological scarring. I was drinking a lot. I was going through addiction and everything that entails and hiding things and all sorts. And that was the polar opposite of the character I was playing, who couldn’t tell a lie. The disappointment shows in their face the minute you start talking.
“[The] character and me did get very mixed up at that point. I didn’t know who I was, really. Continually drinking while playing an alcoholic. It was at its worst. It was during that play that I sort of collapsed and told people around me what was going on and finally took action.”
What’s Next For Jon Snow?
Kit Harington Could Return To Westeros
While playing Snow was evidently the soure of troubles in Harington’s personal life while new seasons of Game of Thrones were airing, it seems like the actor now has a more harmonious relationship with the character and the show. In the summer of 2022, Harington himself was reported to be behind the development of a Jon Snow Game of Thrones spinoff at HBO.
Martin has confirmed that a Snow spinoff is in the works, with the author revealing that Harington and his team were the ones to actually pitch the project. The Snow spinoff is one of a number of Game of Thrones spinoffs currently in the works, including A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, The Sea Snake, and Ten Thousand Ships. The only spinoff to actually see the light of day so far is House of the Dragon, but HBO recently gave the green light to The Hedge Knight as well, though it’s unclear when that show will release.
Last fall, HBO executive Casey Bloys revealed that no other Game of Thrones spinoff is “close to a green light,” which certainly casts doubt on Harington returning as Snow anytime soon. The world and characters of Game of Thrones remain highly valuable pieces of IP for HBO, however, and Snow was one of the most beloved characters from the show. With Harington now pushing to return, Snow may well grace TV screens again at some point in the future.
Game Of Thrones
Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones is a TV series based on the book “A Song of Ice of Fire” by George R. R. Martin. It tells the story of the ongoing battle between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros – as they fight for control of the coveted Iron Throne. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the far north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night’s Watch, led by House Stark’s Jon Snow, is the first to encounter icy horrors that threaten all realms of men. The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and quickly became one of the biggest event series in the “Golden Age” of TV. Winner of 38 Primetime Emmy Awards, Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, international fan base.
- Release Date
- April 11, 2011
- Cast
- Emilia Clarke , Lena Headey , Richard Madden , Michelle Fairley , Kit Harington , Maisie Williams , Alfie Allen , Peter Dinklage
- Genres
- Drama , Action , Adventure
- Seasons
- 8
- Story By
- George R.R. Martin
- Writers
- D.B. Weiss , George R.R. Martin , David Benioff
- Streaming Service(s)
- HBO Max
- Franchise(s)
- Game of Thrones
- Directors
- David Nutter , Alan Taylor , D.B. Weiss , David Benioff
- Showrunner
- David Benioff , D.B. Weiss
