Kit Harington Opens Up About His 8-Year Marriage to Rose Leslie: How She Supported Him Through Tough Times

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie in 2020.
Credit :

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Need to Know

• Kit Harington credits wife Rose Leslie for supporting him “through all the hard stuff” in a recent interview.
• The actor has openly discussed his struggles with depression and addiction.
• Harington also shared insights into fatherhood.

In a recent conversation with Mr. Porter, actor Kit Harington reflected on his relationship with his wife and former co-star, Rose Leslie. Harington, 39, expressed gratitude for their loving bond, noting, “We’re very loving and tactile, and we make sure we tell each other that we love each other.” He praised Leslie as “the most genuine soul” and acknowledged her unwavering support during challenging times. “Rose was there through all of the hard stuff… It has truly worked out,” he added.

Kit Harington and actress Rose Leslie in 2017.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Harington has been candid about his battles with addiction and depression, often attributing his resilience to Leslie, whom he married in 2018. He revealed in a previous interview with The Sunday Times that his experiences around the time Game of Thrones ended were traumatic, involving alcohol. “You get to a place where you feel like you are a bad person… Getting sober is the process of going, ‘No, I can change,'” he said.

Praising Leslie, Harington noted that she taught him “kindness” after his time in rehab. Recently, he expressed his relief at having achieved sobriety before becoming a parent, stating, “I was so lucky I got sober before having kids.”

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie on their wedding day in 2018.

Mark Milan/GC Images

The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in 2021, followed by a daughter in 2023. Harington expressed that fatherhood has come at “just the right time” in his life. In juggling his acting commitments on Industry and Leslie’s theatre work, he noted how they support each other in parenting: “When I’d come back from filming, the kids were there. Anything dark I’d had to deal with during the day was gone.” He added, “It was bizarre and it was great. I’d get home and be a dad.”

Harington emphasized the qualities he hopes to instill in his children: “They’re both awake to the world and they’re kind… I have been blessed with two who have both those attributes in spades.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.