There’s no doubt that Jack Gleeson did a stellar portrayal of Joffrey in Game of Thrones, so much so that rumors spread that some fans hated him because of his character. However, the actor has since shut down these rumors, publicly stating that he has never had any negative experiences when interacting with fans. As to why he stopped, EW reported a few years back that he simply “just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to.” However, there’s more to this story, as he never actually quit acting.
Speaking at Netflix’s House of Guinness premiere, the now 33-year-old Jack Gleeson explained exactly what he’s been up to these past years and why he stepped away from the big screen. “Well, I can say thankfully it wasn’t because I received any sort of abuse from anybody,” the Game of Thrones star remarked in response to being asked the age-old question. He continued, saying that he actually never quit acting; he only stepped away from being on TV. Instead, he and his friends worked in a theater company in Dublin, where he’d still act, just away from a global audience. And the reason for his return to screen acting was that he claimed he missed it.
Needless to say, countless fans were more than pleased with Jack Gleeson’s response, not to mention how he never gave up acting since he’s definitely got a talent for it. One Redditor commented that he made a substantial amount of money from Game of Thrones, then simply decided to spend time with friends back at home while working on his own projects. In a world where actors and actresses are heavily pressured and expected to always be in the spotlight, it’s nice that Gleeson realized he had the right to just take a step back and relax.
GoT fans also point out how he stepped away at just the right time when the show started to decline. “So he got maximum star power from his performance. Well deserved too,” said one online user. “People, especially actors, making good life choices is always refreshing,” added another. Several others pointed out how different he looks now compared to during his role as Joffrey. 7NEWS came out saying he looks “unrecognisable,” and it wouldn’t be too far-fetched, considering the difference in hairstyle and color, not to mention the facial hair.
That said, fans are delighted to see Jack Gleeson back in action on screen for House of Guinness. While it’s possible he could have performed a lot more after gaining fame from Game of Thrones, it might have turned out to be a sad timeline, seeing how he lost enjoyment for screen acting at the time. So, it’s best he comes back now that he’s finally ready to be on the big screen.
