Christopher Catesby Harington (born 26 December 1986) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Jon Snow in the HBO epic fantasy television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019).
After studying at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Harington made his professional acting debut with the lead role of Albert Narracott in the West End play War Horse in 2009. He has received several awards, including a Golden Globe Award nomination and two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. Harington developed, produced, and starred in the 2017 BBC drama series Gunpowder, based around the leading role of his ancestor Robert Catesby in the Gunpowder plot. His film roles include the historical romance film Pompeii (2014), the British period drama Testament of Youth (2014), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals (2021). He also voiced Eret in the second and third films of the How to Train Your Dragon film series (2014–19).
Early life and ancestry
Coat of Arms of the Baron Harington: Sable, a fret argent
Christopher Catesby Harington was born on 26 December 1986 in the Acton district of London. His mother named him after Christopher Marlowe, whose first name was shortened to Kit, a name Harington prefers. He did not learn what his full name was until age eleven. His parents are Sir David Harington, 15th Baronet, a businessman, and former playwright Deborah Jane. Through his father, Harington descends from Scottish politician Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Harington is related to men who were involved on opposite sides of the Gunpowder Plot. He claims a family connection with the leader of the plot, Robert Catesby, on his mother's side, while through his father's side, he is related to King James I, the target of the assassination attempt, and to Lord Harington, who was in the Houses of Parliament that Catesby and his co-conspirators tried to blow up.
Harington was educated at Southfield Primary School from 1992 to 1998. When he was eleven, the family moved to Worcestershire and he attended Chantry High School in Martley until 2003. He became interested in acting after seeing a production of Waiting for Godot when he was fourteen, and he performed in several school productions. He attended Worcester Sixth Form College, where he studied Drama and Theatre (2003–05). When he was seventeen, he was inspired to attend a drama school after seeing a performance by Ben Whishaw as Hamlet in 2004. Harington moved back to London in 2005 aged eighteen after completing Sixth Form and, later that year, enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama, where he graduated in 2008.
