Kit Harington Discusses His Addiction Struggles After ‘Game of Thrones’

Kit Harington has candidly shared insights into a challenging chapter in his life that followed the conclusion of ‘Game of Thrones’. The actor, known for his portrayal of Jon Snow across all eight seasons of the acclaimed HBO series, recently opened up about his battle with addiction and his choice to enter rehab in 2019.

In a conversation with his former ‘Game of Thrones’ co-star Peter Dinklage for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, Harington revealed details about his time in treatment after the final season began airing. He noted that seeking rehab was the first action he took as audiences tuned in to watch the concluding episodes.

“The first thing I did while the show was airing was go to rehab,” Harington explained. “That was my 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.”

The actor recognized the need for a significant change in his life. He mentioned that the time spent away allowed him to concentrate on his recovery and address personal issues away from the public eye.

“I needed to go get sober,” Harington stated. “I needed to get my head on straight.”

While many assumed his rehab stay coincided with the release of ‘Game of Thrones’ final season, Harington clarified that this was not the case. He admitted that one reason he hesitated to seek treatment was the extensive promotional activities expected from the cast.

“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 explained. “And it was a good decision to go, ‘Do you know what? Actually, I’m checking out. I can’t do this.’”

Consequently, Harington missed much of the promotional events surrounding the final season. Reflecting on his choice now, he believes that stepping back was the right move. He found relief in avoiding the press tour, which allowed him to focus entirely on his well-being.

After completing his treatment, Harington decided to take a break from acting. He intended to spend about a year focusing on his personal life and recovery. However, those plans were disrupted when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged just as he was preparing to return to work.

Harington described the post-‘Game of Thrones’ period as unusual and uncertain. Nevertheless, he feels that the additional time away from the industry ultimately benefited him.

“Looking back, it’s been really very good for me,” Harington said. “Because it allowed me the time post that show finishing to figure out in some ways not to be too wanky, but like who I was. And whether I really wanted to do this anymore.”

He also reflected on how profoundly his role as Jon Snow impacted him. He mentioned that during much of his time on the series, he drew heavily from personal pain while performing. Since the show’s conclusion, he has learned the significance of finding both joy and sorrow in his work rather than relying solely on difficult emotions.

According to Harington, achieving that balance has been one of the most valuable lessons of his life after ‘Game of Thrones’. While the years following the series were challenging, he now views that time as a crucial part of his recovery and personal development.

The actor, who is married to fellow ‘Game of Thrones’ star Rose Leslie and is now a father of two, continues to engage in the entertainment industry while being open about the challenges he faced during this significant transition in his career.

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