Kit Harington is opening up about one of the more unusual experiences of his acting career: transitioning from playing Sophie Turner’s brother on Game of Thrones to portraying her romantic partner in a new film.
The actor discussed the experience during Variety’s Actors on Actors conversation with fellow Game of Thrones alum Peter Dinklage, admitting that stepping into a love story with Turner required some adjustment.
“It was weird,” he admitted.
For nearly a decade, audiences watched Harington and Turner portray Jon Snow and Sansa Stark on HBO’s fantasy phenomenon. Although the characters later learned they were actually cousins rather than siblings, their relationship throughout much of the series was rooted in family dynamics. Off-screen, the actors also grew up together while working on the show, creating a close friendship that has lasted well beyond the series finale.
That history made their latest collaboration particularly surprising.
Turner both produced and stars in the upcoming gothic horror film The Dreadful and personally approached Harington about joining the cast. When he finally read the screenplay, however, he realized their characters would share far more than sibling-like scenes.
“She sent me the script and I said, ‘Sophie, there’s a lot of us getting it on.’ She hadn’t seen that. She just said, ‘Yeah, Kit would be good for this part,” he reflected, noting he’s “known [Turner] since she was a child” and considers her like “a younger sister.”
The Dreadful takes place during England’s War of the Roses, the brutal series of conflicts that shaped much of the country’s history during the 15th century. Turner plays Anne, a woman whose life is dramatically altered when a mysterious figure from her past, portrayed by Harington, suddenly reappears.
While the romantic storyline may initially seem jarring to longtime Game of Thrones fans, Harington said the pair ultimately pushed through the awkwardness and focused on the work.
“We did it. It was gross but it was fine. She’s an amazing actor. I know we all know that but she was a child when she [started on Game of Thrones]. She is phenomenal!”
His comments underscore the immense respect he has for Turner’s evolution as an actress. Since her breakout role as Sansa Stark, Turner has gone on to build a career that includes major film franchises, television projects, and producing credits.
As it turns out, Turner shared similar feelings about the unusual casting choice.
During a previous interview with Vogue, the actress acknowledged that the prospect of playing Harington’s lover felt strange given their shared history and the audience’s long-standing association with their Game of Thrones characters.
“I did a movie last year which I’m really excited about with my old but very good friend Kit Harington, who played my brother on Game of Thrones,” Sophie shared in a Vogue interview. “We’re doing a gothic horror… but we play lovers.”
She then directly addressed fans who might struggle with the transition.
“Sorry, guys. It’s really weird for all of us,” Sophie added.
Despite the initial discomfort, both actors seem to agree that their friendship ultimately helped them navigate the unconventional dynamic.
