Kit Harington: Stop Talking About My Sex Appeal

The Game of Thrones actor says being treated as a heartthrob is 'demeaning'

'It’s not just men that can be inappropriate sexually; women can be as well.' So says Game of Thrones star Kit Harington, who has given a heartfelt interview to Page Six in which he complains that he doesn't enjoy being treated as a sex object.

'To always be put on a pedestal as a hunk is slightly demeaning,' he says. 'It really is and it’s in the same way as it is for women. When an actor is seen only for her physical beauty, it can be quite offensive... I'm in a successful TV show in a kind of leading man way and it can sometimes feel like your art is being put to one side for your sex appeal. And I don't like that.'

He adds: 'In this position you get asked a lot, "Do you like being a heartthrob? Do you like being a hunk?" Well, my answer is, "That's not what I got into it for."'

It might be tempting to file this one under #beautifulpeoplesproblems, but Harington probably has a point. Just as actresses want to be asked about more than their outfits, actors want attention to be focused not just on their pecs, but on their work itself. We'll continue to quietly ogle Harington while watching Game of Thrones - but maybe those reporters who keep asking him about his hunkiness should give it a rest.