Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson unrecognisable as he sets the record straight on acting future

Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson is back on screen after a decade-long break from acting and fans are obsessed with his dramatic new look.

The Irish actor, best known for playing the arrogant and cruel King Joffrey Baratheon in the hit HBO series, revealed his signature blonde hair is now brown, complemented by a matching moustache.

Soon after portraying one of television’s most hated characters, Gleeson announced his “retirement” from acting.

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At the time, rumours swirled his decision to step away was linked to the backlash from his role on the show.

For the next 10 years he largely disappeared from the spotlight, appearing only in a small indie film and a few episodes of TV shows.

Now 33, Gleeson is making a much-anticipated return in Netflix’s new crime series, House of Guinness.

Speaking at the show’s premiere on Thursday, the actor set the record straight about why he actually took a break from acting.

Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson debuted a new look at the premiere of his latest project. Credit: The HookGleeson was much younger when he rose to fame portraying evil King Joffrey in Game of Thrones. Credit: Evan Agostini/AP

“Well I can say, thankfully, it wasn’t because I received any sort of abuse from anybody,” Gleeson told independent entertainment news source The Hook.

“I know that can happen … I don’t know, it can happen. People confuse the character with the actor.”

During his acting hiatus, Gleeson attended Trinity College Dublin and co-founded a theatre company with his friends.

“But after Game of Thrones, or even during, I was continuing to act,” he said.

“But it was more just with a theatre company I had set up with some friends in Dublin.

“And I don’t know, I was just more into that at that time.”

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in 2014 after Joffrey’s on-screen death, Gleeson announced he was retiring from acting at 21.

“I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to,” Gleeson said at the time.

“Now there’s the prospect of doing it for a living, whereas up until now it was always something I did for recreation with my friends, or in the summer for some fun. I enjoyed it.

“When you make a living from something, it changes your relationship with it.

“It’s not like I hate it, it’s just not what I want to do.”

Gleeson as King Joffrey in Game of Thrones. Credit: HBO

In the new interview however, the actor revealed he felt an urge to give acting another go.

“But then I started to miss screen acting and I got back into it,” he said.

Gleeson also revealed his new look, which stunned fans.

“Wow the darker hair makes his eyes incredibly striking,” one person commented.

“I am in love with this current look. He’s giving Ned Flanders hotness and I’m here for it,” another said.

Game of Thrones premiered in April 2011 and concluded on May 2019, with 73 episodes broadcast over eight seasons.