Jack Gleeson ‘Instantly Wanted To Retreat’ From His Overnight ‘Ever-Pervasive’ Fame

Apr 13, 2022

From 2011 to 2019, the HBO fantasy drama television series “Game of Thrones” was one of the most-watched programs, leaving fans all over the world talking about all of its twists and turns. The series was based on the fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, and was filmed in the United Kingdom. 

Although the series received plenty of awards and accolades over the years, its final season received backlash from fans and critics alike. However, “Game of Thrones” is still recognized for its brilliance in its earlier seasons, especially for creating such a unique and fantastical world. Many of its stars went on to find great success following their time on the hit show, although some chose to leave the entertainment industry behind and instead focus on their personal lives.

Jack Gleeson was one of the main characters on “Game of Thrones” from 2011 to 2014, portraying the role of Joffrey Baratheon. His character was known for being a spoiled bully who constantly tormented his family. Joffrey was later killed in the series during his wedding reception, which many people have since referred to as The Purple Wedding.

Gleeson received plenty of praise for his dedication to the role and carried out the character extremely well. Despite this, he decided to step away from the spotlight for a few years, but has since returned to act in a few productions in film, television and theater. However, many fans still wonder what led the star to take a break from the entertainment industry, especially after coming off such a popular TV series.

Gleeson was born on May 20, 1992, in Cork, Ireland. He attended drama classes when he was young and began performing in youth theater shortly after. During his childhood and teenage years, Gleeson landed several roles in films, including “Reign of Fire” in 2002, “Batman Begins” in 2005 and “A Shine of Rainbows” in 2009.

As he grew older, he became increasingly interested in academia and began studying philosophy and theology, and was even elected a scholar at Trinity College Dublin in 2012. However, by this time, he had already landed one of the biggest roles of his career – starring as Joffrey on the HBO series “Game of Thrones.”

The role served him well, making him one of the most popular celebrities at the time. Viewers couldn’t get enough of his character despite how annoying and vile he was. Fortunately, Gleeson was able to have some fun with the character, although he didn’t get too emotionally invested in it. Speaking with Vulture, he said, “I just kind of say the lines in a mean way. I don’t really get into the emotions too much.”

However, Gleeson wasn’t the biggest fan of the new world he had entered – the world of being famous. Speaking at Oxford University in 2014, Gleeson talked about how hard it was to adjust to his new life of being a well-known celebrity. 

“Since the show has aired, I’ve been given an insider look into an ever-pervasive yet often mysterious aspect of society,” he said, as per Bustle. “Strangers on the street now call me Jack and my public image is democratized by fans and institutions alike on the internet.”

Going from a relatively unknown actor who enjoyed performing in theater productions to starring on one of the most popular TV series seemingly overnight was definitely a shock for the star. While Gleeson said it was a “once in a lifetime” experience, he also stressed just how strange it all was.

“Unbeknownst to me, I’d signed an invisible contract which required me to enter into a strange new echelon of society,” Gleeson said. “People suddenly wanted to take pictures of me on the street, and journalists were interested in what sort of socks I preferred. It was an atmosphere from which I instantly wanted to retreat.”

And Gleeson did just that – he retreated from the spotlight for several years following his time on “Game of Thrones,” and instead focused on the Collapsing Horse Theatre Company, which he was a founder and producer of. He returned to the stage and stayed there until 2019 when the company came to an end.

However, Gleeson has seemed to step back into the public eye in the more recent years as he has a few film and television credits from 2020 and on. In 2020, he was in a couple of episodes of the TV series “Out of Her Mind,” and followed that up with a film role in “Rebecca’s Boyfriend” in 2021.

Gleeson has seen just how great and how challenging it can be to be a working actor, especially when it comes to mainstream success, but has continued to show just how talented he is. We can’t wait to see what project he signs up for next!

Are you a fan of Jack Gleeson? What do you think about his reasons for taking a break from the spotlight? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to any “Game of Thrones” fan you know!