Kit Harington is best known for his iconic role as Jon Snow in the series ‘Game of Thrones’ where he captivates audiences throughout the show’s eight-season run. The 38-year-old British actor becomes a global star thanks to his portrayal of the brooding and conflicted character at the heart of the fantasy epic. He has since gone on to appear in major film projects including the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ‘Eternals’. Now, the actor opens up about a deeply personal struggle he faced during one of the most significant moments of his career.According to Variety, Kit Harington recently has a conversation with former co-star Peter Dinklage for the publication’s Actors on Actors series, where he reveals that he checks himself into rehab as the hit’s eighth and final season begins airing in 2019.
Kit Harington sought treatment during ‘Game of Thrones’ final season
“The first thing I did while the show was airing was go to rehab,” Kit says during the interview. “That was my very first port of call. It was a very weird experience, Peter. Like, I decided to go to rehab as episode one was airing. And I was there for six weeks, isolated, without my phone.”Kit explains that he seeks treatment because he feels he needs to make major changes in his life. “I needed to go get sober,” he says. “I needed to get my head on straight.”
Kit Harington prioritises his health over press obligations
The actor notes that entering rehab means stepping away from the show’s final press tour, despite feeling pressure to remain in the spotlight during such a major moment for the series. “Actually, that was a big pull to not go to rehab was like, ‘Well, wait a minute, there’s loads of press that needs to be done, you need to be front and center,” he continues.However Kit makes the difficult decision to prioritise his wellbeing. “And it was a good decision to go, ‘Do you know what? Actually, I’m checking out. I can’t do this.'”
Kit Harington takes time away from acting to recover
Following his stay in rehab, the ‘Eternals’ star takes about a year away from acting before eventually returning to work. Looking back on that period, he reflects on how the break gives him time to reassess his life and career after spending nearly a decade playing Jon Snow.
