Kristian Nairn
- Actor
- DJ
- musician
Kristian Nairn (born 25 November 1975) is an actor and DJ from Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He is best known for his portrayal of Hodor in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2011–2014, 2016).[1][2] He also played Wee John Feeney on the HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death (2022–2023).[3]
Career
Nairn's portrayal of Hodor on Game of Thrones was his first acting role; Nairn earned enough to buy his mother a house.[4] He is a progressive house/trance DJ, and used to be the resident DJ of Kremlin, a gay club in Belfast.[5] Since Game of Thrones began, Nairn has toured as a DJ with "Rave of Thrones" using musical themes and costumes from the television series.[6][4] At the end of 2017, he performed the first part of the Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike concerts in Antwerp.[7][8] He was the DJ during the BlizzCon 2016 anniversary party and BlizzCon 2018 closing festivities.[9][10] In October 2018, Nairn appeared in a commercial for eToro that was launched on YouTube, featuring the Internet meme HODL.[11][12]
Nairn is an accomplished guitarist. He got the opportunity to play backstage with Megadeth during the Hellfest Open Air Festival in Clisson, France, in June 2018.[13]
He portrayed Wee John Feeney on the HBO series Our Flag Means Death from 2022 to 2023.[14][15]
Personal life
In March 2014, Nairn publicly discussed his gay identity in an interview with a Game of Thrones fan site.[16] He stated: "When you talk about 'the gay community,' you are talking about MY community. [...] I've never hidden my sexuality from anyone, my whole life in fact, and I've been waiting for someone to ask about it in an interview."[17] He went on to say that his sexuality is "a very small part of who I am on the whole, but nonetheless, in this day and age, it's important to stand up and be counted."[18] In 2015, Nairn clarified in an interview with Chicago Go Pride that it was really his "second coming out. I'd done it when I was 14 and didn't think I'd have to do it again. Especially since every single person in my life knew."[19] In April 2023, Nairn revealed to the BBC that he had witnessed the shooting of policeman Darren Bradshaw at the Parliament Bar in Belfast in May 1997.[20]
Filmography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Kristian_Nairn_%28cropped%29.jpg/170px-Kristian_Nairn_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Our Gay Wedding | Himself | |
2014 | Treasure Trapped | Himself | Documentary |
2015 | The Four Warriors | Baliphar | |
2016 | Mythica: The Godslayer | Tek | |
2018 | The Appearance | Johnny | |
Robin Hood: The Rebellion | Thomas | ||
2023 | Unwelcome | Eoin |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011–2014, 2016 | Game of Thrones | Hodor | Recurring (seasons 1–4, 6), 23 episodes Nominated – 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards for Tearjerker[21] |
2012–2013 | Ripper Street | Barnaby Silver | 2 episodes |
2013 | Chronicles of Comic Con | Himself | 1 episode |
2014 | The Wil Wheaton Project | Himself/Hodor | 1 episode |
2018 | The Sidemen Show | Himself | 1 episode |
The Rookie | Wallace | Episode: "The Switch" | |
2021 | The Boulet Brothers' Dragula | Himself: Guest Judge | 1 episode |
2022–2023 | Our Flag Means Death | Wee John Feeney | Main role |
Podcast
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Yogpod 38: Hodor! | Himself | Interview |
Cast of Thrones: A Golden Crown | Himself | Interview | |
2012 | Cast of Thrones: Bonus Episode 9 | Himself | Interview |
2013–2015 | Two is Company by Zack Luye and Kristian Nairn | Himself | Talk show 16 episodes[22] |
2019 | Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum | Himself | Interview[23] |
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Peabody Awards | Entertainment | Our Flag Means Death | Nominated | [24] |
References
- ^ "A Conversation with Hodor". HBO. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
- ^ "GameofThrones.hu". GameofThrones.hu. Retrieved 15 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Gelman, Vlada (21 June 2021). "TVLine Items: Hodor Joins Pirate Comedy, Mrs. Maisel Casting and More". TVLine. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ a b Fox, Killian; Bromwich, Kathryn; Hogan, Michael (31 March 2019). "'It was madness': Game of Thrones stars on how it changed their lives". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ "Podium Lounge of the Seven Kingdoms". Popspoken. 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ^ "'Game of Thrones' star announces 'Rave Of Thrones' DJ tour". Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ Moayeri, Lily. "Hodor hits the road: 'Game of Thrones' grad and DJ Kristian Nairn reveals tour dates". chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ Moayeri, Lily (9 March 2020). "Hodor Hits the Road: 'Game of Thrones' Grad and DJ Kristian Nairn Reveals Tour Dates". Variety. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "BlizzCon 2016: Kristian Nairn (Hodor) Will DJ The Anniversary Party – Geek Girl Authority". 28 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "BlizzCon Music Festival to Feature Train, Lindsey Stirling, and Kristian Nairn". Blizzard Entertainment. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ "Hodor urges crypto investors to 'hodl'". NewsComAu. 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "eToro 'HODL'- It is not investment advice. Your capital is at risk | Kristian Nairn". Campaigns of the World. 21 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "Watch: Hodor from Game Of Thrones' Jams With MEGADETH". Metal Injection. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ^ White, James (19 January 2022). "It's A Pirate's Life For Rhys Darby And Taika Waititi In The Teaser For Our Flag Means Death". Empire. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Darwish, Meaghan (26 September 2022). "'Our Flag Means Death' Team Teases Start of Season 2 Filming (Photos)". TV Insider. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Bargnes, Kevin (11 March 2014). "Kristian Nairn, of 'Game of Thrones,' comes out in interview". Chicago Spectrum. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ Sieczkowski, Cavan (11 March 2014). "'Game of Thrones' Actor Kristian Nairn Comes Out As Gay". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ Fire and Blood (11 March 2014). "Interview with Kristian Nairn". WinterIsComing.net. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ Shapiro, Gregg (26 August 2015). ""Sweet Giant: An Interview with Kristian Nairn, Game of Thrones' Hodor"". Chicago Go Pride. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ "Game of Thrones Hodor actor witnessed Belfast gay nightclub shooting". BBC News. 29 April 2023. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Zach (6 April 2017). "Guardians of the Galaxy Lands 7 MTV Movie Awards Nominations". E!. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ "Two is Company". Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ "Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum". Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ Voyles, Blake (20 September 2023). "83rd Peabody Award Nominees". Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- Kristian Nairn at IMDb