Kit Harington is opening up about the awkwardness of sharing romantic scenes with Sophie Turner in their upcoming horror film “The Dreadful”—a challenge made infinitely more uncomfortable by the fact that they spent nearly a decade playing siblings on “Game of Thrones.”
From Stark Siblings to On-Screen Lovers
Harington and Turner portrayed Jon Snow and Sansa Stark across all eight seasons of HBO’s epic fantasy series, which concluded in 2019. Their characters’ relationship was strictly familial—making the transition to romantic leads in “The Dreadful” more than a little strange for both actors.
“She was one that sent that movie to me and somehow didn’t see what I saw in it,” Harington told E! News while promoting his new role in “The Family Plan 2” on Apple TV+. “I was like, ‘These guys, these are lovers, right?’ I felt very odd about that.”
Despite his reservations about the romantic element, Harington saw the project as an opportunity to reconnect with his former co-star. “It was a good chance to be with her again and work together,” he said, though he couldn’t resist adding a self-deprecating joke: “It was slightly embarrassing, having to get on an apple box to kiss her because she’s about a foot taller than me. But other than that, my dignity was pretty intact.”
A Reunion That Felt Like Family
Once filming began last fall, any initial awkwardness gave way to the comfortable rapport the two actors had built over their years together on “Game of Thrones.”
“What was lovely is that we got on set together and our friendship completely ignited again,” Harington shared. “It felt like being with family. It really did.”
That familial feeling, of course, was precisely what made the romantic scenes so challenging.
Turner’s Equally Visceral Reaction
Turner had already addressed the uncomfortable kissing scenes during an appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” in August, describing the experience in equally colorful terms.
“So, I sent the script to Kit, and he kind of sent me a message back going like, ‘Yeah, I’d love to, but this is going to be really fucking weird, Soph,'” Turner recalled. “And I was like, ‘What is he talking about?’ Then I was reading [the script] and it’s like, ‘Kiss, kiss, sex, kiss, sex…’ And then I’m like, ‘Oh, shoot, that’s my brother.'”
According to Turner, they attempted to compartmentalize the situation before filming began, but reality hit hard once cameras rolled. “We put it out of our minds, and then we get on set and it’s the first kissing scene, and we are both retching,” she said. “Like, really, it is vile. It was the worst.”
About ‘The Dreadful’
Set in the 15th century, “The Dreadful” follows Anne (Turner) and her mother-in-law Morwen, who live on the outskirts of society. When a man from their past (Harington) returns, he triggers a chain of events that dramatically upends Anne’s life.
The horror film is written and directed by Natasha Kermani and also stars Oscar nominee Marcia Gay Harden, Laurence O’Fuarain, and Jonathan Howard. While a release date hasn’t been announced, the buzz surrounding the Harington-Turner reunion has already generated significant interest in the project.
The Challenge of Breaking Character History
The situation highlights an interesting challenge actors face when reuniting after playing specific relationships on long-running series. Harington and Turner weren’t just colleagues—they spent formative years building a believable sibling dynamic that resonated with millions of viewers worldwide. Jon and Sansa’s relationship evolved significantly throughout “Game of Thrones,” from childhood separation through reunion and ultimately becoming central figures in the series’ conclusion.
That history doesn’t simply evaporate when the cameras stop rolling. For both actors and audiences, there’s an indelible association between these performers and their “Game of Thrones” roles—something that makes casting them as romantic partners a bold creative choice.
A Testament to Professional Acting
Despite the awkwardness both actors have candidly described, their willingness to push through the discomfort speaks to their professionalism and commitment to their craft. Many actors have noted that on-screen romance is rarely as glamorous as it appears, often being technically demanding and emotionally neutral work—but adding a previous sibling dynamic certainly takes the challenge to another level.
The fact that both Harington and Turner can discuss the experience with humor suggests they’ve successfully navigated what could have been an insurmountable obstacle. Their friendship, forged over years of working together on one of television’s most demanding productions, apparently proved strong enough to withstand even the strangest of professional requests.
Looking Ahead
While audiences await the release of “The Dreadful,” the behind-the-scenes stories about its production have already become entertainment news gold. The film will inevitably attract attention simply for reuniting two “Game of Thrones” stars, but the added layer of them playing romantic interests—complete with their refreshingly honest reactions to the experience—has only amplified interest.
Whether “The Dreadful” succeeds as a horror film remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Harington and Turner have given us one of the most entertaining promotional narratives in recent memory. Not every actor would be so candid about finding their kissing scenes “vile” and requiring an apple box to reach their co-star—but that honesty is exactly what makes their friendship, and this reunion, so endearing.
Winter may have come for the Starks, but for Kit Harington and Sophie Turner, an awkward new chapter has just begun.
