Kit Harington

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Kit Harington

Christopher Catesby "Kit" Harington (born 26 December 1986) is an English actor who rose to fame playing the role of Jon Snow, one of the main characters in the series Game of Thrones. He starred as Albert Narracott in the original West End production of War Horse. Harington also played the lead role of Milo in the 2014 film Pompeii and 'Eret' in How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Early life

Harington was born in London and lived there until he was eleven. He moved to Worcester, remaining there until he was eighteen, when he moved back to London. He is the son of David Richard Harington and Deborah Jane (nÃ©e Catesby), who was a playwright and taught creative writing for Birmingham University. He was named after Christopher Marlowe.

Harington attended Southfield Primary School from 1992 to 1998. He then went on to attend Chantry High School till 2003. He attended Worcester Sixth Form College, where he studied Drama and Theatre Studies, between 2003 and 2005. He graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama in 2008.

Ancestry

His uncle is Sir Nicholas John Harington, the 14th Baronet Harington, and his paternal great-grandfather was Sir Richard Harington, the 12th Baronet Harington. Kit is a descendant of Charles II of England, by his paternal grandmother Lavender Cecilia Denny. Also through his father, Harington descends from politician Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, bacon merchant T. A. Denny, clergyman Baptist Wriothesley Noel, merchant and politician Peter Baillie, peer William Legge, 4th Earl of Dartmouth, and MP Sir William Molesworth, 6th Baronet. Harington stated in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel that he is a descendant of writer John Harington. Harington's ancestry is predominantly English, as well as Welsh and Scottish.

Career

Before acting, Harington originally wanted to become a journalist, a cameraman or a war correspondent. While still in school, Harington landed the role of Albert in the Olivier Theatre's adaptation of War Horse. The play won two Oliver Awards, which saw Harington receive a great deal of recognition. He was later cast in his second play Posh, a dark ensemble comedy about upper-class men attending Oxford University.

Harington landed his first television role as Jon Snow in the hit series Game of Thrones. The show debuted in 2011 to great critical acclaim. Harington's role is largely filmed in Iceland and Northern Ireland.

Harington made his cinematic debut in 2012 as Vincent in Silent Hill: Revelation 3D. Then, he played the role of Milo in the film Pompeii. He voiced the character of Eret in How to Train Your Dragon 2.

He will appear alongside Jeff Bridges in the upcoming film Seventh Son, currently set for a February 2015 release. Harington will play Roland Leighton, the main character's love interest, in Testament of Youth, which is expected to be released in 2015.

Harington was honored with Actor of the Year at the Young Hollywood Awards 2013, which celebrates the best emerging young talent in film, music and television.

In December 2014, it was announced that he will be featuring in Xavier Dolan's upcoming movie The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, alongside Jessica Chastain.