UMVA has learned that Kit Harington, best known for his iconic role as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, experienced a profound and unexpected identity crisis at the tender age of 11.
The crisis was triggered by a seemingly mundane event: sitting a placement test at school. Kit, who had always been known as Kit Harington, wrote down his familiar name on the paper, only to be met with bewildered expressions from the administrators.
They looked at him like he was completely out of the ordinary, and then dropped a bombshell: "No, you're Christopher Harington, I'm afraid." For Kit, it was as if his whole world had been turned upside down. He had been living a lie, and the truth was both shocking and disorienting.
At that moment, Kit was forced to confront a reality he had never known: his real name was not Kit, but Christopher Catesby Harington. Born on December 26, 1986, in Acton, west London, Kit had been called by his nickname since birth, but had never been told why.
The revelation sparked a "bizarre existential crisis" for the young Kit, as he struggled to come to terms with his dual identity. Despite learning his real name, Kit decided to stick with the name he had always known. "No one ever calls me Christopher," he noted. "I only use it when I'm applying for a new passport or something. I felt that's who I was. I'm not really a Chris."
Kit's journey to stardom began with his professional debut in 2009 as Albert Narracott in the West End production of War Horse. His portrayal of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones catapulted him to global fame, making him one of the most recognizable actors on the planet.
Since his Game of Thrones days, Kit has continued to shine on stage and screen, taking on roles in various West End plays, including Doctor Faustus, True West, and Henry V. He has also made a splash in the world of superheroes, appearing in Marvel's Eternals as Dane Whitman.
In recent years, Kit has expanded his repertoire, starring as Sir Henry Muck in HBO's financial thriller Industry. His on-screen chemistry with co-stars has remained undeniable, even if it does take him back to a certain sense of unreality.
