“In my life, I didn’t feel like that at all”: Kit Harington’s Game of Thrones Character Jon Snow Left Him Psychologically Scarred For One Depressing Reason
British actor Kit Harington, who became a global superstar by playing Jon Snow in the iconic series Game of Thrones, has revealed the deep disconnect between his on-screen persona and his personal life.
Harington shared that his portrayal of Snow had him going on a psychological meltdown because of his stark contrast with the character. Jon Snow was one of the main characters in Game of Thrones and was a man of integrity, courage, and moral values.
Through his commitment to doing the right thing, even when it was unbearable, he became a favorite of millions of fans around the world. However, Harington inhabited the role of the iconic character at a price. He found himself in constant conflict to reconcile and was suffering from ADHD.
Kit Harington’s Addictions and Mental Health Struggles
In a recent interview on The Hidden 20%, Kit Harrington reflected on the disconnect between his character and his true self, saying,
“I’ve got where I got confused between character and me in a very long period of time. I think it was with the Jon Snow stuff because I was playing a character who was the epitome of goodness and honesty and truth and in my life I didn’t feel like that at all.”
This contrast in his public perception as a hero against his own internal feelings of turmoil laid the foundation for a personal struggle that eventually led him to addiction and mental health challenges.
These struggles were reflected in the form of alcoholism and addiction. In the interview, Harington admitted that he drank a lot. He said,
“I was drinking a lot effectively like I was sort of going through addiction and everything that entails and hiding things and all sorts and so that was the polar opposite of the character I was playing who couldn’t tell a lie, who was goodness personified, who was honesty and me Kit was not.”
After coming out of Game of Thrones, Harrington played an alcoholic in a play where he got mixed with the character due to his personal struggles and started drinking a lot. He even collapsed once on stage.
Later, he went to a rehabilitation center in America to get professional help, where he found out about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This allowed him to identify the reasons behind his struggles.
Kit Harington’s Jon Snow Might Return in an HBO Spin-off
Quite ironically, Jon Snow might be set for a comeback. According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO is thinking of a Game of Thrones spinoff series. While there are few available details about this, the fact that Harington might be set to play the fan-favorite character once again will definitely turn the interest back on.
Snow found out his true name was Aegon Targaryen in the final season of Game of Thrones and that he was a potential heir to the throne. If it actually comes true, the ending would be a radical move from the original show’s finale, and it would open up many new possibilities for the character.
It would be a full-circle moment for Harington to return to the part that made him an international celebrity but also gave him personal challenges. With many more years of self-awareness and personal development under his belt, Harington might be better prepared this time.
