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Kit Harington ‘happy’ he took break after 'Game of Thrones' due to mental health difficulties

Kit Harington is happy he took a break after 'Game of Thrones' came to an end. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Kit Harington is happy he took a break after Game of Thrones came to an end. (Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Kit Harington has said he is “happy” with his decision to take a break after Game of Thrones ended due to difficulties with his mental health.

The actor played Jon Snow in all eight seasons of the fantasy epic, which came to an end in 2019.

Speaking on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show, he addressed how appearing on the programme had affected him.

Watch: Kit Harington offers rare glimpse into life as a new father

"I went through, kind of, some mental health difficulties after Thrones and during the end of Thrones, to be honest. And I think it was directly to do with the nature of the show and what I've been doing for years,” Harington, 34, shared.

Read more: Kit Harington was raised in a 'gender neutral environment'

"I think I took, sort of, a break after Thrones where, so, I don't want to work for a year [and] I want to really kind of concentrate on myself. I think I'm really happy I did that."

Prior to the show’s finale in 2019, Harington’s publicist confirmed he had gone to a “wellness retreat” to “work on some personal issues”.

Kit Harington starred as Jon Snow for eight seasons. (Credit: HBO)
Kit Harington starred as Jon Snow for eight seasons. (Credit: HBO)

Despite his struggles stemming from the series, Harington also praised the show for the people it introduced into his life.

It was on the HBO series that Harington met his wife, Ygritte star Rose Leslie. The pair welcomed their first child, a boy, earlier this year.

"I met my wife. My child is a direct result of Game of Thrones. I still have very, very good friends from that show," he said. "It did nothing but wonders for me."

Kit Harington met wife Rose Leslie on 'Game of Thrones'. (Photo by Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Kit Harington met wife Rose Leslie on Game of Thrones. (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Read more: Kit Harington explains why he and wife Rose Leslie won't take photos with fans

Harington will be seen in several new roles this year including in the upcoming second season of Amazon Prime’s Modern Love which is set for release later this month.

He’s also starring as Dane Whitman in new Marvel movie Eternals, with a trailer for the superhero flick released back in May.

Watch: Richard Madden says Eternals ‘is more than just another superhero movie'