September 28th 2024.
In just 60 seconds, the famous Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn reveals to us the pivotal moment that led him to his destiny. At the age of 48, Nairn rose to fame with his first acting gig portraying the lovable, yet monosyllabic giant, Hodor, on the iconic show. But before his acting career took off, he spent years as a DJ and even reigned as the queen of Belfast's drag scene.
In this weekend's 60 Seconds interview, Nairn shares his experiences growing up as a gay man in rural Ireland, his journey to becoming a fan favorite on Game of Thrones, and how writing his new memoir, Beyond The Throne, became a therapeutic project for him. One of the first questions asked is how often he gets recognized as Hodor, to which he responds with a laugh, "A lot!" He even shares a funny anecdote about hearing someone yell "Hodor!" at him in the middle of a grocery store.
When asked about the immense love and adoration for his character, Nairn compares Hodor to Bella from Twilight, saying that there is enough left to the imagination for fans to see themselves in the role. He also mentions Hodor's friendship with Bran as being a fan favorite dynamic.
The conversation then turns to Nairn's decision to write his memoir, which was initially suggested by his manager after hearing all of his interesting stories while on tour. Nairn admits that he was hesitant at first, but as he began to write, it became a form of therapy for him. He also opens up about always feeling slightly like an outsider due to his size and sexuality, but has learned to embrace and use it to his advantage.
Nairn then shares his dreams growing up, which included being a guitar player in a glam-metal band, dressed in spandex and hairspray, playing a neon guitar. Although he hasn't achieved that dream yet, he did get to play guitar with Megadeth. The conversation then shifts to Nairn's first drag performance as Revvlon, which he describes as a personal breakthrough and a "door-to-destiny moment."
The interviewer brings up the fact that Nairn's mum was the one who pushed him to audition for Game of Thrones, as she is a huge fantasy fan. Nairn fondly talks about their relationship and jokes that she could be his agent. He also shares that he has a great memory and didn't need to keep a diary to remember his experiences on the show.
Nairn also mentions his close relationship with his on-screen nephew, Isaac Hempstead Wright, who played Bran on the show. He describes their bond as a mix of uncle-nephew, father-son, and brotherly love. When asked if he took anything from the set as a keepsake, Nairn laughs and denies the rumor that he stole "The Door," explaining it was just a small piece of balsa wood that came off in his hand during a scene.
The conversation then turns to Nairn's past life as a DJ and the impact music has had on his life. He shares that he learned to communicate through music before he was confident enough to go out into the world and has been fortunate enough to play at amazing venues all over the world.
Finally, the interviewer asks Nairn if he has figured out how to be "Kristian" after portraying so many different personas. Nairn responds by saying that all of those personas are just different parts of himself and he has learned to reconcile them. He also shares some words of wisdom for his younger self, encouraging him to believe in himself and remember that his own opinion is the only one that truly matters.
Nairn's memoir, Beyond The Throne, is now available for fans to read and learn more about his journey to stardom and self-discovery.
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