The climactic romantic pairing of Jon Snow (played by Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) in the final seasons of HBO’s Game of Thrones was a source of massive anticipation for fans. Yet, what audiences saw as destiny, the actors involved found incredibly awkward, not because of the controversial incestuous reveal, but because of their deep, familial friendship. Kit Harington’s refreshingly straightforward, humorous, and consistent refusal to romanticize his relationship with his co-star became the ultimate shield, protecting their close, pure bond and his own marriage to former co-star Rose Leslie.
🎬 The Awkward Truth: Kissing Your “Sibling”
Harington and Clarke had spent nearly a decade working together, sharing the pressures, secrecy, and global phenomenon that was Game of Thrones. This shared experience forged a bond that they consistently described as brotherly and sisterly.
When their characters, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, finally had their highly anticipated sex scene and subsequent romantic storyline, Harington admitted it was “really weird.” As he recounted in numerous interviews, they had forged such a close relationship over a seven-year period that filming scenes of passion felt fundamentally unnatural.
“Emilia and I had been best friends over a seven-year period and by the time we had to kiss it seemed really odd,” Harington told the Daily Mirror. He added that they were simply “pissing ourselves with laughter because it’s so ridiculous” when trying to film.
By framing the intimate scenes as an awkward, professional hurdle that violated their established “sibling” dynamic—and not as a moment of genuine chemistry—Harington preemptively shut down the constant rumors and fan speculation about a real-life romance.
💍 Protecting the Personal: Friendship and Marriage
Harington’s humorous candor served a vital double purpose that protected his personal life. It validated the pure, non-romantic nature of his professional bond with Emilia Clarke, ensuring the intensity of the fan “shipping” culture did not compromise their mutual respect.
Crucially, it offered clear, public deference to his own relationship with Rose Leslie (who played Ygritte, Jon Snow’s first love interest, and whom Harington married). Importantly, Emilia Clarke and Rose Leslie are also close friends. Harington’s assertion that he found kissing Clarke “unnatural” was a powerful, public demonstration of commitment to both women and their intertwined friendships.
Related Data: The Power of Fan Shipping
The intense desire for the Jon/Daenerys pairing was palpable, adding significant pressure on the actors, making Harington’s refusal to fuel the fire even more vital. The concept of “Jonerys” (the fan-created portmanteau for Jon and Daenerys) dominated social media discussions for years. The eventual reveal that Jon Snow was Daenerys’ nephew (a plot point that made the romance incestuous) only increased the audience’s sense of awkwardness, which inadvertently validated Harington and Clarke’s own feelings about the scenes.
Kit Harington’s clear, direct, and slightly self-deprecating explanation—that kissing his best friend felt “unnatural”—was a masterful deflection. It respected the integrity of his work while fiercely protecting the sanctity of his personal relationships and his close, seven-year friendship with Emilia Clarke.
Would you like to know more about the friendship between Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, and Rose Leslie? Absolutely. The close-knit friendship among the three stars—Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, and Rose Leslie—is often cited by the actors as the reason the on-screen romance felt so strange to film.
Here are more details about their intertwined friendships:
🫂 The Tripartite Bond: Friends, Co-Stars, and Couple
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A Shared Experience: Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke bonded quickly at the beginning of the show, even before their characters’ storylines converged. They both started Game of Thrones right out of drama school, were the two young leads, and often shared the pressures and intense public scrutiny of being part of a global phenomenon. Clarke noted that they were “in sync, even if we were filming on opposite sides of the world,” and Harington often said only Emilia could truly understand what he was going through.
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The Best Friends Factor: The friendship between Kit and Emilia was strong for years. When asked about filming the romantic scenes, Harington stated, “Emilia, Rose and I are good friends, so even though you’re actors and it’s your job, there’s an element of weirdness when the three of us are having dinner and we had a kissing scene that day.” The knowledge that his “best friend” was also very close with his wife was a major source of the awkwardness.
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Clarke and Leslie’s Close Relationship: Emilia Clarke and Rose Leslie (who played Ygritte, Jon Snow’s love interest and later became Kit Harington’s wife) are also known to be close friends. Clarke was a guest at Harington and Leslie’s wedding, and they have been pictured together outside of professional events. This friendship among all three solidifies the non-romantic nature of the Kit/Emilia dynamic in real life.
😅 The On-Set Reality
The on-screen passion between Jon and Daenerys was often marred by this off-screen familiarity. Emilia Clarke corroborated Harington’s experience, saying that the first time they had a romantic scene together, they both just started laughing. “Why are you looking at me this strange way and saying these strange lines? You’re my friend!” she said.
In short, the deep, mutual friendship and the marriage between two of the central stars created a supportive and safe environment, but it meant that the professional requirement of acting like star-crossed lovers was an amusing challenge rather than a believable one.