The English actor Kit Harington is best known for his portrayal of ‘Jon Snow’ in the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones.’ At the age of 14, he saw a rendition of the famous play ‘Waiting for Godot,’ which sparked his interest in acting. Soon after, he decided to pursue a vocation in acting. Kit received professional training from the ‘Royal Central School of Speech and Drama’ after completing high school. After completing drama school, he began performing in the theater. He received two ‘Olivier Awards’ for his performance in the play ‘War Horse.’ This encouraged him to pursue acting as a career. In 2011, he debuted in the HBO fantasy–drama series ‘Game of Thrones.’ In the series, his depiction of ‘Jon Snow’ made him an international celebrity. Kit has played major roles in a number of critically acclaimed films following his immensely successful run on “Game of Thrones.” His most noteworthy films include ‘Testament of Youth,’ ‘Seventh Son,’ and ‘Brimstone.’ He provided the vocal for a pivotal character in the animated film “How to Train Your Dragon 2.”
Youth and Early Life
Christopher Catesby Harington was born on December 26, 1986, in London, United Kingdom. Deborah Jane, his mother, was a playwright. Sir David Harington, 15th Baronet, his father, was a prosperous businessman.
Kit is a descendant of the royal family of Great Britain. He was one of King Charles II’s great-grandfathers. Kit’s ancestors also participated in the infamous ‘Gunpowder Plot.’ According to him, some of his mother’s ancestors plotted the assassination of King James I of Ireland, England, and Scotland. Kit is interestingly related to King James I through his father.
Kit attended ‘Southfield Primary School.’ After spending the first eleven years of his existence in London, he and his family relocated to Worcester. Kit didn’t know his actual name was Christopher until he was 11 years old, which is an interesting fact. Growing up, he was fascinated by journalism. Despite his passion for the theater, he never seriously regarded it as a career option. However, he often viewed plays along with his mother.
The play ‘Waiting for Godot,’ which he saw while attending ‘Chantry High School,’ ignited his interest in acting. When he was 14 years old, he decided to pursue a career in acting. Throughout high school, he featured in multiple plays. After graduating, he decided to hone his abilities by enrolling in acting courses. In 2008, he graduated from the prestigious ‘Royal Central School of Speech and Drama’.
A Profession About Kit
Kit was one of those fortunate young actors whose hardship period was brief. As soon as he matriculated from acting school, he began appearing in professional stage productions. One of his earliest plays, ‘Posh,’ was produced by the ‘Royal Court Theatre.’ Prior to that, while he was still in acting school, he played the lead role in the play ‘War Horse.’ His acting in the play earned him two ‘Olivier Awards.’ He auditioned for a role in the HBO drama ‘Game of Thrones’ when he was still a novice in the field of acting. Hundreds of other actors from across the nation auditioned for the part, but Kit ultimately earned it. His inaugural performance was a career-defining moment.
Kit portrayed ‘Jon Snow,’ the illegitimate son of the show’s primary character, ‘Ned Stark,’ in the 2011 HBO premiere. Throughout the course of the series, Kit’s personality underwent several modifications. Initially portrayed as a naive but courageous young child, ‘Jon’ eventually developed into a dependable battle commander. Prior to the premiere of the third season, ‘Jon’ had become a fan favorite. Kit’s consistent success in the series has made him an international celebrity. Kit has also garnered several awards over the years for his portrayal of ‘Jon Snow.’
While Kit was experiencing his massive international success, he received numerous acting offers. In 2012, he debuted on the big screen with the supernatural horror film ‘Silent Hill: Revelation 3D.’ He portrayed the lead role of Vincent in the film. However, the film was a commercial and critical failure. Kit took a one-year hiatus after the failure of his debut film to focus on his portrayal of ‘Jon Snow’ in ‘Game of Thrones.’ Kit had a significant year in 2014, as he appeared in four films.
His first film of 2014 was a historical flop titled ‘Pompeii.’ He portrayed the main character in the film. Despite a few positive reviews, many critics criticized the film for its historical inaccuracies and poor visual effects.
Kit subsequently provided the vocal for the character ‘Eret’ in the animated film ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ The film was a commercial and critical success. Then, Kit portrayed Roland Leighton in the war drama “Test of Youth.” Critics praised the film highly, but it was a box office flop. Kit’s final film of 2014 was the fantasy epic ‘Seventh Son,’ which was poorly received by critics despite being a commercial triumph.
Kit was one of the two main characters in the 2015 HBO sports drama ‘7 Days in Hell.’ In the same year, Kit appeared in the British espionage drama ‘Spooks: The Greater Good.’ The film was positively received by critics. In addition to the film’s success at the box office, Kit’s performance was met with widespread acclaim. In the 2016 Western thriller ‘Brimstone,’ Kit played the supporting character Samuel. The film was a critical and commercial success.
In 2017, Kit served as executive producer for the miniseries ‘Gunpowder,’ which was based on the notorious ‘Gunpowder Plot’ that occurred in London in 1605. He appeared in the film as ‘Robert Catesby.’ Kit starred in the 2018 film ‘The Death and Life of John F. Donovan,’ which was derided by critics. Kit has also been active in the theater over the years, appearing in plays such as ‘The Vote,’ ‘Posh,’ and ‘True West.’
Kit is the face of the fashion label ‘Jimmy Choo’ and the ‘Dolce & Gabbana’ fragrance ‘The One.’
Personal Facts About Kit
In 2012, Kit Harington began courting his ‘Game of Thrones’ co-star Rose Leslie. The couple tied the knot in June 2018. Additionally, Kit has been involved with numerous charitable causes. He has expressed his desire to collaborate with surrealist filmmaker David Lynch due to his immense admiration for his work.
Estimated Net Worth
Kit Harington is an English actor with a $14 million net worth. Before transitioning to cinema and television, Kit Harrington began his acting career on stage. In 2011, Harington was appointed as Jon Snow in “Game of Thrones,” which has become a cultural phenomenon and one of the most successful television series ever. From 2011 to 2019, he was the show’s protagonist.