“Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington has admitted to having some very dark days during his battle with alcoholism.
The star is grateful for the opportunity to get her life back on track, saying in the interview that there was a time when she wasn't sure she'd be able to do it. GQ It is due for release on August 12. Harrington said he has struggled with mental health issues due to his drug addiction and has even considered suicide.
“I was really fortunate to get sober before having children,” he told the magazine. “There were times when it would have been physically and mentally impossible for me to not drink again.”
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 13: Kit Harington attends a photocall for the Fendi Fall/Winter 2024/2025 fashion show as part of Milan Fashion Week on January 13, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images, Courtesy of Fendi)
Harington sought treatment for alcoholism at the height of his fame with Game of Thrones in 2019, entering rehab while filming the final episode. He previously admitted to having suicidal thoughts at the time, according to GQ.
Although the road to recovery hasn't been easy, he said he considers sobriety to be his true accomplishment.
“The fact that I can be proud of this is an accomplishment in itself to me,” he said.
He went on to talk about how hard he was on himself during his darkest times.
“Before I got sober, I would look in the mirror and call myself a bum,” he says. “I hated myself.”
While fame and fortune may have seemed fulfilling from afar, Harrington's inner conflict was very real.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: Kit Harington attends the red carpet premiere of the Apple Original Series “Extrapolations” held at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, California on March 14, 2023. (Photo by Michael Thalberg/FilmMagic) Getty Images
“I literally despised myself and I wasn't proud of what I did. I couldn't be proud of myself,” he said, explaining his deteriorating mental state at the time. “So to be proud of myself for getting sober is in and of itself a sign of becoming a totally different person. And now, any set I'm on, any job I do, I can be proud of because I know I put my all into it.”
Comparing his current state of mind to past experiences, he said, “Before, I had a huge weight on my back that was weighing me down.”
“So this whole idea of being proud of yourself is a relatively new concept for me.”
The star is aware that life may throw unexpected events at him. (RELATED: 'I Hanged Myself': Actor Alan Ritchson Opens Up About Suicide Attempt)
“Look, you never know what's going to happen in the future,” he said.
“I might have one big, messy, chaotic relapse, and I hope that never happens,” he told GQ. “But I think talking about it will protect me.”
