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Kit Harington didn’t think twice when he got the call to join HBO’s “Harry Potter” series as Gilderoy Lockhart, admitting that he’s “a bit of a nerd” for the wizarding
world.
Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, the “Game of Thrones” star revealed the personal connection he has to the “Harry Potter” books — and why saying “yes” to the show was a no-brainer.
“I listen to the Stephen Fry audiobooks. And I do that because my brain is incredibly busy, especially at night, and I’ve always found going to bed very difficult. My brain doesn’t turn off,” Harington said. “When I got sober, that got especially bad. And so I started listening to ‘Harry Potter’ audiobooks, and now they’re the thing I listen to every night. So they have a very special place in my heart.”
In fact, Harington was recently part of Audible’s “Harry Potter” audiobooks as the voice of Lockhart — a famous yet arrogant wizard who becomes the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts — before the TV series came his way.
“When I knew they were doing this show, I was like, ‘I think that’s a brilliant idea, I think they can really delve into it further than the films did.’ I’m fully supportive of it,” Harington said. “And then I got called to be in it, and that was just a very simple, ‘Yes, please!'”
Harington took over the role of Lockhart, who will first be seen in Season 2, from Nicholas Hoult after he exited the series due to scheduling conflicts. Harington joked that it “wasn’t hard” for him to step into the shoes of the self-centered professor.
“He’s addicted to himself. He’s just a tiny step to my left,” Harington said with a laugh.
With filming on Season 2 already underway, Horowitz asked Harington if he had started discussing his character’s look yet. “Yes, and I’m going to say highly little about anything because it’s very secretive,” Harington said. “But yes, I’m engaging with that as we speak.”
Harington went on to say that stepping onto set for the first time will be special for him as “I’m a bit of a nerd for it and I love it like I do.” And when Horowitz enquired what Hogwarts house Harington identifies with, he replied: “I’m Gryffindor, obviously!”
The British actor said he is especially excited because filming the “Harry Potter” series at the Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden allows him to stay present for his two young children.
“[‘Harry Potter’] films down the road from me. So I get to be a dad; I get to go play in a world I love,” he said. “Genuinely, right now I’m very content.”
Watch Harington’s full interview on “Happy Sad Confused” below.
