Kit Harington

Kit Harington was born as Christopher Catesby Harington on 26 December 1986 in Acton, Greater London. Most importantly, he is an actor and producer. Kit Harington graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama in 2008. Firstly, he landed the leading role of Albert at drama school.

Later, he made his professional acting debut in the ‘National Theatre’ and ‘West End’ which critically acclaimed adaptation of the play War Horse. Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip saw his performance in a private theatre visit in 2009.

In 2011, he gave a breakthrough performance as Jon Snow in the HBO television series ‘Game of Thrones’ due to which he rose to prominence. It brought him international recognition. Furthermore, Kit nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in the Drama Series (Games of Thrones). Likewise, he also nominated for Critics Choice Television Awards for Best Supporting Actor for the same role. Moreover, Harington was honored with the ‘Giffoni Experience Award’ in 2017 at the Giffoni Film Festival.

Harington has acted in several feature films that include the historical romance film ‘Pompeii’ (2014), British drama ‘Testament of Youth’ (2014). He gave the voice of Eret in the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’  film franchise.

Kit Harington
Image Source: Instagram @kitharingtonig

Early Life and ancestry

The kit was born to Deborah Jane (Catesby) who was a former playwright and David Richard Harington, who was a businessman. Most noteworthy, kit named after 16th-century British playwright and poet Christopher Marlowe, whose first name shortened as Kit, a name Harington prefers.

Sir Nicholas John Harington is Kit’s uncle who was the 14th Baronet Harington. His paternal great-grandfather was Sir Richard Harington who was the 12th Baronet Harington. Kit’s eight times great-grandfather was King Charles II of England, through his paternal grandmother, Lavender Cecilia Denny.

Most importantly, Harington studied at the Southfield Primary School from 1992 to 1998. His family moved to Worcestershire when he was 11. He studied at the Chantry High School in Martley until 2003. His interest in acting rose after watching a production of ‘Waiting for Godot’ when he was 14.

Kit Harington also performed in several school productions. Later, he attended Worcester Sixth Form College where he studied Drama and Theatre Studies in between 2003 and 2005. However, At the age of 17, he watched a performance by Ben Whishaw playing Hamlet and because of that, kit inspired to study acting in a drama school. Next year, he moved back to London, and a year later he attended the Central School of Speech and Drama. And graduated from there in 2008.

Career

The year 2008–2010: Kit’s early work in theatre

Harington originally wanted to become a journalist before joining acting. He played the role of Albert in the ‘National Theatre’s adaptation of War Horse’ when he was at drama school. The play won two ‘Olivier Awards.’ Due to the same play, Harington received a great deal of recognition. 

Later, Harington appeared in his second play ‘Posh’; a dark ensemble comedy about upper-class men attending Oxford University.

Kit’s breakthrough with ‘Game of Thrones’ and film roles: 2011–present.

Kit Harington auditioned and played his first television role after ‘War Horse’ is as Jon Snow in the television series ‘Game of Thrones.’ In 2011, the show debuted and received great critical acclaim. But the network quickly picked up for a second season. Certainly, most of his roles are filmed in Iceland and Northern Ireland. And later renewed for a seventh season series. However, the series premiered on 16 July 2017. It will conclude with its eighth season in 2018/19.

‘Game of Thrones’ took place on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It shows that the power struggles among noble families as they fight for control of the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. One of the major characters Jon Snow is introduced as the illegitimate son of Ned Stark, who was the honorable lord of Winterfell. Most importantly, Harington earned the number of praise for his performance. However, In 2012, Harington nominated for a ‘Saturn Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Actor on Television’. 

Even more, In 2016, Harington nominated for a ‘Primetime Emmy Award’ in a ‘Drama Series’ for Outstanding Supporting Actor. So, Harington became one of the highest-paid actors on television in 2017. The same year, he earned £2 million per episode from ‘Game of Thrones.’

In 2012, Harington appeared in his cinematic debut as Vincent in ‘Silent Hill: Revelation 3D’. However, the film was based on the horror theme and about the survival horror video game ‘Silent Hill 3’. For this work, kit honored with ‘Actor of the Year’ at the ‘Young Hollywood Awards 2013.’ 

Harington celebrates the best emerging young talent in film, music, and television. Harington’s played the role of Milo in the film ‘Pompeii’ which was his first significant leading role in a feature film. The film production starts off in 2013. The shooting of the film took place in and around Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In fact, some of the scenes of the movie were also shot in the actual city of Pompeii itself. The film was an ordinary box office success which received both negative and positive reviews from critics. 

Harington gave his voice work as Eret in How to Train Your Dragon 2. The film won the ‘Golden Globe Award’ for Best Animated Feature Film and also nominated for ‘Academy Award.’

Harington also worked alongside Jeff Bridges in the film ‘Seventh Son’ in 2014. The movie poorly received the acclaim of fantasy–adventure film. 

Harington played the role of Billy Bradley in the same movie. Ben Barnes, Alicia Vikander, and Emily Watson also starred in the movie. However, the film releases in wide distribution in the UK on 16 January 2015. 

In October 2014, the mayor of London supported the world premiere, Organized at “The Centerpiece Gala” in the British Film Institute London Film Festival. Even more, In December 2014, It was announced that kit would feature in Xavier Dolan’s movie ‘The Death and Life of John F Donovan.’ Again it was announced on August 1, 2018, that the film would have its world premiere at the ‘2018 Toronto International Film Festival.’

In 2015, Kit Harington starred in HBO comedy ‘7 Days in Hell’; a short film about a seven-day tennis match. 

Harington played the central villain in the first-person shooter video game ‘Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare’ in 2016. Even more, In the movie ‘Gunpowder Plot’, Harington portrayed the role of his ancestor Robert Catesby, together with actors Mark Gatiss, Liv Tyler, and Peter Mullan.

Theatre work

Kit Harington worked in theatre as well. He played the role of Albert Narracott in ‘Warhorse’ from 2008-2009. And played in the Royal National Theatre and New London Theatre.

In 2010, Harington portrayed the role of Ed Montgomery in ‘Posh,’ played in Royal Court Theatre.  

In 2015, Harington appeared as Collin Henderson in ‘The Vote’; played in Donmar Warehouse.

Kit Harington played the role of Faustus in ‘Doctor Faustus’ in 2016; played in Duke of York’s Theatre. Even more, Kit Harington also has worked for ‘True West’ in 2018-2019.

Awards

Kit Harington Won ‘Young Hollywood Award’ in 2013 for the ‘Actor of the Year.’ The same year, he won ‘Gold Derby TV Award’ for Best Ensemble of the Year and ‘Online Film & Television Association Award’ for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series.

In 2014, Kit again won ‘Online Film & Television Association Award’ for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series.

In 2015, Harington won ‘Gold Derby TV Award’ for Best Ensemble of the Year. The same year, he won ‘Empire Award’ and shared with the cast.

The year 2016 again gave him ‘Gold Derby TV Award’ for Best Drama Supporting Actor and Best Ensemble of the Year. The same year, he won ‘Online Film & Television Association Award’ for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series and Best supporting actor in Drama Series.

Height

Kit Harington is 1.73 m tall whereas his wife Rose Leslie is 1.68 m tall.

Net Worth

Kit Harington’s net worth is $12 million.

Salary per episode

According to Kit’s 2017 salary survey –  the paychecks of TV’s most notable stars – the outlet revealed that Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, and Emilia Clarke they all make the same amount per episode: $500,000

Kit Harington Game of Thrones (2011) Salary per episode

£340,000 per episode
$500,000 per episode (season 7)
$500,000 per episode (season 8)

Wife

Kit Harington has married a Scottish actress on 23 June 2018. Her name is Rose Leslie. Leslie is professionally an actress. She is the winner of ‘Scottish BAFTA’ for Best Acting Performance for her character in’ New Town.’

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie had an awesome wedding on June 23, 2018, after dating for several years. The wedding was attended by their colleagues of ‘Games of Thrones,’ Hollywood friends and family members, and fans of the couple who enthusiastically waited outside of the church for a glimpse of the bride and groom.

July 2011

Kit Harington and Leslie were assumed to meet for the first time during the second season of ‘Games of Thrones’ began filming.  As TMZ published photos of the couple holding hands, the rumors began when they started an off-screen romance. The couple was spotted on a date in a restaurant. But, they never confirmed that they were dating.

In 2014, Harington said any discussion and talk of a romance between him and Leslie is “all rumor and myth.” 

Later, Harington spoke publicly about the rumors for the first time in an interview with ‘The Standard,’ “Me and Rose [Leslie] are very, very close and very good friends,” Harington added, “And continue to be. She’s wonderful. But no, no love affair.”

In July 2014, Harington and Leslie attended San Diego Comic-Con jointly for a “Game of Thrones” panel. The couple was spotted arriving at the Los Angeles International Airport together. In the same year in August, US Magazine reported that they were back together.

In April 2016, Harington and Leslie walk onto the red carpet together and spoke publicly about their relationship for the first time.

Kit formally announced his engagement on September 27, 2017. ‘The Times'(London) newspaper published the news.

Social Sites

Kit Harington seems active on many social sites. Some of his social sites are as follows:

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/kitharingtonn/?hl=en 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kitharingtoncom 

Upcoming Movies

The Eternals is his upcoming movie on November 6, 2020. There he will appear as the ‘Black Knight’ Dane Whitman. However, the movie is directed by Chloe Zhao and produced by Mitchell Bell (co-producer), Kevin Feige (producer) and Nate Moore (executive producer). The kit character will be vital to the film’s narrative progression. Most importantly, the movie is an upcoming American Superhero based on ‘Marvel Comics’ and will be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Facts about Kit

Kit Harington played the role of Albert Narracott in the play ‘War Horse’ when he was at drama school. However, at a young age, Kit Harington wanted to be a cameraman, a war correspondent, and a journalist.

Harington’s mother, whose name is Deborah Jane (Catesby) is a playwright and artist. His father, whose name is David Richard Harington is a retired businessman.

In 2012, Kit Harington fell while climbing to his flat and broke his ankle when he was locked out of his apartment building in London. 

The film crew had to figure it out how to shoot around the injury during Season 3 of ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011), including the use of stand-ins in “Jon Snow wigs.” 

Kit Harington said he had never worn long hair before ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011) and he had to wear a wig in the first season. Soon, Harington was made to cut his hair short again after the series is complete.

Kit’s ancestry is English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, and Dutch. Moreover, his distant roots are German, French, and Spanish as well. 

When you have an in-depth look back to the 1400s and 1500s, he also has remote Italian, Polish, Lithuanian, Austrian, and Danish ancestry. 

Kit’s father belonged to a prominent family and had come down from many Earls, Baronets, Peers, Dukes, and Viscounts. Kit’s mother’s ancestors lived in India and South Africa as part of British colonialism. 

Kit Harington’s paternal eight times great-grandfather was King Charles II of England. From 1660 to 1685, Charles II was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and King of Scotland from 1649 to 1651as well.

Kit Harington is a brother of John Catesby Harington.

Kit Harington joined the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Harington received ‘Actor of the Year at the Young Hollywood Awards’ in 2013.

In 2014, Kit Harington undertook a heavy ‘bulking’ regime and a diet of 3000 calories a day to put on 2 stone of weight in 5 weeks for the film ‘Pompeii.’ 

Kit Harington used to work in a book store where he usually had to lift heavy copies of the ”A Song of Ice and Fire” series. However, he got into a fight at a McDonald’s restaurant because of a guy who was hitting on the girl he was with.

Kit Harington is a huge fan of David Lynch. Most noteworthy, Kit Harington himself was unknown about his real name that was Christopher until he was 11. Although he has naturally dark brown hair, he had to dye it black for the role of Jon Snow.

Personal life

Harington used to live in Canonbury, London in 2015. Kit purchased a £1.75 million,15 the-century country home in Ipswich, Suffolk in 2017.

Kit Harington had an unofficial relationship with ‘Game of Thrones’ co-star Rose Leslie in 2012. After having a long-term relationship, they declare their engagement through the “Forthcoming Marriages” section of ‘The Times’ on 27 September 2017.

Firstly, the reception conducted at 12th-century Wardhill Castle. After that, The couple married at the Rayne Church in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 23 June 2018.

Charity Work

On August 2017, Harington summoned on the government to fund six years’ back pay for overnight careers, with a video backing Mencap #StopSleepInCrisis.

According to his message of support, Harington said, “The learning disability sector in the UK is on the brink of crisis. It is faced with a back-pay bill of £400 million which it cannot pay. Many of the providers of this essential, ‘sleep-in’ service, face bankruptcy. And some of the most vulnerable people in our society is left, without care, without hope, and an independent future. Stand with Mencap and stand with the incredible people our colleagues support and care for every day.”

Harington backed the 130 challenge on 15 June 2018. However, It was a charity campaign that focused on raising funds to save Town Bridge’s Town Hall Arts in Wiltshire. 

 

 

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