Kit Harington talks Game of Thrones’ surprise Emmy win, reveals what he kept from set

The cast and crew of Game of Thrones descended on the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards having won the top award of the night — Outstanding Drama Series — for the show’s past two seasons. But that didn’t mean they weren’t surprised when season 7 made it a trifecta. “It was exciting to be at the Emmy Awards again and to win, because we weren’t expecting to a win this time,” star Kit Harington (Jon Snow) told Men’s Journal. “We were away for a while, and I wasn’t even sure we’d get nominated, which in some ways sounds mad. But we missed a year and sometimes they’ll wait for a final season to give the awards. I thought Season 7 was brilliant, and I’m glad they recognized that.”

Aside from some possible minor reshoots, filming for season 8 has wrapped (Harington still hasn’t cut his hair, though). “The whole experience has been incredible,” Harington reflected. “I’ve felt very fortunate to work with so many amazing people.”

And that’s all well and good, but what can he tell us about season 8?

"This is going to be so boring, but it’s a minefield to say anything. Even in the past when I’ve said something it gets taken the wrong way, or that I revealed something. Even if I’ll say that it’s going to be an exciting season, it’ll get put out in the wrong way. I don’t know how I’m going to deal with this when I actually have to promote the thing, but I don’t want anything to get taken wrongly."

Dodging those mines, Harington preferred to discuss season 7, singing the praises of filming on location in Iceland. “It was brutal, being out there in minus-40 degrees and the freezing wind. It can be quite an experience. Overall, I love location work. I’m more of a person that thinks there is a benefit of filming on location, whether it’s Game of Thrones or something else.”

Harington also revealed that he engaged in a time-honored tradition among actors whose time on a set has come to an end: stealing props. So what did Harington keep as a memento of his eight seasons on Game of Thrones?

"I actually didn’t take anything too crazy. I kept some of the armor that I use for Jon Snow’s outfit, like the wrist protectors I’ll wear in his costume. I thought those were pretty cool."

Those would be vambraces. Seems Jon Snow still knows nothing.

Harington’s time on Thrones has landed him other gigs, including as the face of Dolce & Gabbana’s cologne The One Grey. It’s kind of surreal to find myself walking through an airport and you see your own face staring back at you,” he said.

As the face of a fashion campaign, does Harington have any fashion advice for us mere mortals?

"I’d say that I don’t really have any tips, but for me getting dressed up is about feeling comfortable. I’d say for anyone to keep that in mind, because if you feel comfortable and feel good about yourself, you’ll look better too."

Deep thoughts from Jon Snow.

Game of Thrones season 8 debuts sometime in the first half of 2019.

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