Brief
Kit Harington’s Acting Path Took Him From Law to Shakespeare
The former barrister turned actor explains how his family’s legal background shaped his career and why he chose Dickens for his latest series.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Kit Harington, 39, who plays Sydney Carton in MGM+’s new adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, says his family’s legal tradition almost led him to a career in law. He grew up in a line of barristers and was told by his father that acting was the right path after school. Harington trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, landed the lead in the National Theatre’s War Horse, and later starred as Jon Snow in HBO’s Game of Thrones. He has since appeared in films such as Pompeii and Eternals, and has expressed a preference for ensemble work and character arcs that span multiple episodes. The actor chose Dickens’ 1859 novel for his new series because it had not been adapted since the 1980s and he felt it remained relevant today.
Key facts
- Kit Harington was told by his father to pursue acting instead of law (bustle.com)
- He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (bustle.com)
- He starred in the National Theatre’s War Horse and HBO’s Game of Thrones (bustle.com)
- He chose Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities for MGM+ because it had not been adapted since the 1980s (bustle.com)
Sources
- [1] bustle.com — originally reported as “Kit Harington Was Supposed To Be A Lawyer. His Dad Had Other Ideas.”
