Kit Harrington

Christopher “Kit” Harrington, English actor, first came to prominence in the west end production of War Horses where he played the role of Albert Narracott. He is now known internationally as the character Jon Snow in the outstanding fantasy production of Game of Thrones.
 

 

Family Heritage

Kit has a very interesting and varied heritage with baronets, a clergyman and politicians. Kit’s paternal great-grandfather was the 12^th Baronet Harrington, Sir Richard. He is also related to politicians Henry Dundas who was the 1^st Viscount Melville and Peter Baillie who was also a merchant. There is a Baptist clergyman called Wriothesley Noel, a bacon merchant, T. A. Denny and peer William Legge 4^th Earl of Dartmouth. Another MP Sir William Molesworth is also a relative. His mother, Deborah, is a playwright and his father, David, owns a book store. He has one brother, John.

Schooling

Born Christopher Harrington on 26^th December 1986 in Hammersmith in London, he attended Southfield Primary School from 1992 until 1998 and then went to Chantry High School until 2003. Between 2003 and 2005 he studied Drama and Theatre at Worcester Sixth Form College. In 2008 he graduated from the Central School Speech and Drama. It was while he was studying when he was chosen for the role of Albert in War Horse. In his early years he was interested in becoming a cameraman or a journalist.

On acting

 
Kit was very surprised to find himself in a production such as Game of Thrones, as he was not a widely recognised actor, and he was still studying at the Central School of Speech and Drama, though maybe his family heritage gave him an insight for the role of a member of an old ruling family.

Film, Television and Theatre roles

In 2008 and 2009 he starred as Albert Narracott in War Horse at the Olivier and New London Theatres. In 2010 he starred in Posh as Ed Montgomery at the Royal Court Theatre. Since 2011 he has starred as Jon Snow in the popular television series Game of Thrones that is now into its third season. He can currently be seen in the film Silent Hill: Revelation 3D.

Award nominations

Kit Harrington has been nominated three times in his acting career, all for the television fantasy series Game of Thrones. He was nominated for a Saturn award in 2012 for Best supporting actor on television by the Academy of Science fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films USA for his work in Game of Thrones. In 2012 he was nominated for a Golden Nymph award for an outstanding actor in a television series for Game of Thrones. Also in 2012 Kit was nominated for a Screen actors Guild award as being part of an Ensemble in a drama series for Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones

Do you know this TV series was devised for the US strait HBO? Yes, this channel is initiated by the legendary people David Benioff & D. B. Weiss. It has become the most watched original series since The Sopranos. Kit Harrington plays the role of Jon Snow who is the bastard son of Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark, head of the Stark family. Sean Bean plays the role of Ned.

The series is based on fantasy novels by George R. R.  Martin called “A song of fire and ice”. The first series is based on the novel, A Game of Thrones, the second series is based on the novel, A Clash of Kings and the third series is based on the first part of A storm of swords.
It is filmed at copious locations around the globe.

The story is about two fictional continents called Essos and Westros that have endured a ten year summer. There are many plot lines surrounding the characters, one which sees Kit’s character, Jon Snow, attempt to gain back the throne of a dynasty that has been deposed.
It also follows the story of several noble families and the upcoming threat of a wintery end to the long summer that involves mythical creatures that live in the North.

Jon’s character has a tumultuous relationship in the television series with Ygritte who is a fiery red head called a wildling that practice marriage as the art of capture. Jon has captured her so she is considered to be his wife. Because of her red hair she is thought to be lucky and been “kissed by fire”. At first Jon wanted little to do with Ygritte but eventually they became lovers.
Game of Thrones explores many different issues such as religion, social hierarchy, civil war and sexuality.
 

 

War Horse

This stage play is based on a novel by for young children by Michael Morpurgo. It is about the horses that are used during war. Set during and before World War I, Kit played the role of Albert Narracott a young boy who is bought a horse by his father and uses it to plough the fields on the family farm. The horse is later sold to pay rent and ends up as horse in the German army.

Upcoming

Kit has several movies in the next few years. Next year, he plays the role of Billy Bradley in The Seventh Son and a yet to be named role in Greenland Time. In 2014 he will be seen in the sequel to the successful movie How to train your dragon and will star as Sergeant Gloff in Monte Cassino that is set in 1944.

Trivia

For his role of Jon Snow he initially had to wear a wig, but he grew his hair and now has no need for it.

Personally

Kit Harrington is a very private person and guards his private life. He is rumoured to be dating Rose Leslie, a Scottish actress seen in Downtown Abbey as the maid Gwen in the first series. She is his co-star from Game of Thrones and plays a young girl called Ygritte introduced in the second series.

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