Yahoo Lifestyle Kit Harington Talks Romance
I think I've just recruited Kit Harington as marie claire's new London intern.
"I'm serious!" he shouts over the hum of traffic in Soho. "I always wanted to be a journalist if the acting hadn't taken off." But journalism's loss was Hollywood's gain because, for the London boy who plays Game Of Thrones's Jon Snow, the acting thing did take off. Big time.
Harington's trajectory is the stuff of Hollywood fairytales. A relative unknown, Thrones came out of the blue. "I've always been a bit naive and never expect anything," he says. "I go into a project, do the best I can, then try to forget about it and move on. That way you are never disappointed."
Today, the 27-year-old actor insists he can still largely go unrecognised when on the street. Amazing, really, given that more than eight million people watched the first episode of Game of Thrones's fourth season in the US, and two million people talked about it on Facebook. It is now HBO's most-watched episode since The Sopranos finale in 2007. And Harington's face is arguably its best loved - and most famous. So much so that he has been announced as the face of luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo.
When I ask him how he copes with the pressures of fame, he admits: "I struggle with that a bit. But I figure that is what I get paid for. Not the acting, not the publicity - those are all exciting things to do - it's losing anonymity that you are getting paid for. You no longer have your privacy, and it can get strange sometimes."
Harington is probably referring to the countless news stories, linking him to his Game of Thrones's co-stars. Reports have variously suggested that he has been in relationships with Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen, and Rose Leslie, who plays Ygritte. What's the deal, then?
Kit Harington with rumoured girlfriend, Rose Leslie.
"Oh, I don't know, I find it hilarious. Some of the rumours out there are wonderful."
So you're not dating at the moment, I push. "If I come out and say this is what I'm doing, this is who I'm with, then everyone goes, 'OK this is boring; next'. It's much more fun to see what the press make up. It doesn't bother me."
Keeping to the dragons and swords theme, Harington has been busy promoting Pompeii and How To Train Your Dragon 2, but he's ready for his next challenge. "Being the action guy wasn't something I expected," he laughs. "It was seriously hard work getting in shape for a film like Pompeii. But I love physical, muscular roles. You've got to take them when you're young, right?"
Christened Christopher, he was nicknamed Kit after the priest who married his parents. Given the Thrones effect that resulted in 146 baby girls in the US being called Khaleesi in 2012 (after one of the show's heroines), we're expecting an explosion of mini Kits soon.
"Well, it's funny you should say that," starts Harington, who goes on to describe an encounter with a pregnant fan. They started chatting and she told him she hadn't decided on a name for her baby boy yet. "She asked me what my name was because she only knew me as Jon Snow, and when I told her ... she called her husband over and they decided that's what they'd call the baby. I was like, wicked. But now this little guy will have to say his parents called him Kit because they met this random actor who then disappeared without a trace..."
Somehow we doubt that will be the case, with several films, including one starring Julianne Moore, in the pipeline. As our chat overruns, Harington apologises and heads off for dinner with a friend. Next morning, a colleague bounds into the office with a, "You'll never guess who I saw last night" teaser. Turns out Harington's dinner turned into drinks at a club, where he was spotted kissing co-star Rose Leslie. Quite the devil-may-care attitude for somebody concerned about privacy. But then again, he might be playing with us.
Harington as the face of Jimmy Choo.
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