Kit Harington discusses his gender-fluid upbringing

When we think about heroes, we generally have a picture of a well-built, macho and strong character who can get through just about anything. History has painted men to be overly masculine, who don’t feel pain or express their emotions to be seen as a hero. Jon Snow was the prime example of such a hero on Game of Thrones. However, Kit Harington, who played the character for 9 years, does not share the same views.

Harington discussed his views on inherited male trauma and gender- fluid upbringing with the Telegraph. He said he wants to steer clear of playing emotionally repressed silent men on-screen.

“I feel that emotionally men have a problem, a blockage, and that blockage has come from the Second World War, passed down from grandfather to father to son. We do not speak about how we feel because it shows weakness, because it is not masculine. Having portrayed a man who was silent, who was heroic, I feel going forward that is a role I don’t want to play any more. It is not a masculine role that the world needs to see much more of.”

Kit further described how his mother encouraged gender-fluid upbringing. He explained, “I asked for a Mighty Max and she bought me a Polly Pocket. I asked for an Action Man and I got a doll – it was very gender fluid from the word go. And I went with it.”

The 33-year-old actor will now be seen in a not so silent role in Netflix’s Criminal season 2. Kit’s new character is a far cry from the heroic Jon Snow. He expresses his frustration openly in the trailer, unlike Snow, and is a convicted real estate agent.

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