Kit Harington: Don’t call me hunky!

Kit Harington thinks being called hunky is “slightly demeaning”.

The 28-year-old, who is well known for his portrayal of warrior Jon Snow in hit HBO series Game of Thrones, was named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive last year.

But Kit doesn’t like being lauded for his looks.

“To always be put on a pedestal as a hunk is slightly demeaning,” he told news.com.au. “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.”

Kit believes objectification against both men and women just feeds into stereotypes.

He also considers the practice to be a huge distraction.

“Well, it’s not just men that can be inappropriate sexually; women can be as well. 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,” Kit explained.

“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.'”

Kit absolutely loves portraying Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.

And he’s elated his character’s personality has rubbed off on him in key ways.

“Well, I have an inner warrior,” Kit smiled. “And I’m proud of my inner warrior. He fights for me every day. That’s one of the things I like about myself. I can be quite brave in situations and foolhardy at the same time. Like Jon, just like Jon.”