{"id":169905,"date":"2025-09-26T07:46:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T07:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/169905\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T07:46:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T07:46:15","slug":"game-of-thrones-star-jack-gleeson-unrecognisable-as-he-sets-the-record-straight-on-acting-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/169905\/","title":{"rendered":"Game of Thrones star Jack Gleeson unrecognisable as he sets the record straight on acting future"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Soon after portraying one of television\u2019s most hated characters, Gleeson announced his \u201cretirement\u201d from acting.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

At the time, rumours swirled his decision to step away was linked to the backlash from his role on the show.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Now 33, Gleeson is making a much-anticipated return in Netflix\u2019s new crime series, House of Guinness.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the show\u2019s premiere on Thursday, the actor set the record straight about why he actually took a break from acting.<\/p>\n

\"GameGame of Thrones star Jack Gleeson debuted a new look at the premiere of his latest project. Credit: The Hook\"GleesonGleeson was much younger when he rose to fame portraying evil King Joffrey in Game of Thrones. Credit: Evan Agostini\/AP<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I can say, thankfully, it wasn\u2019t because I received any sort of abuse from anybody,\u201d Gleeson told independent entertainment news source The Hook.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that can happen … I don\u2019t know, it can happen. People confuse the character with the actor.\u201d<\/p>\n

During his acting hiatus, Gleeson attended Trinity College Dublin and co-founded a theatre company with his friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut after Game of Thrones, or even during, I was continuing to act,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it was more just with a theatre company I had set up with some friends in Dublin.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I don\u2019t know, I was just more into that at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly<\/a> in 2014 after Joffrey\u2019s on-screen death, Gleeson announced he was retiring from acting at 21.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to,\u201d Gleeson said at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you make a living from something, it changes your relationship with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like I hate it, it\u2019s just not what I want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GleesonGleeson as King Joffrey in Game of Thrones. Credit: HBO<\/p>\n

In the new interview however, the actor revealed he felt an urge to give acting another go.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then I started to miss screen acting and I got back into it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Gleeson also revealed his new look, which stunned fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow the darker hair makes his eyes incredibly striking,\u201d one person commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am in love with this current look. He\u2019s giving Ned Flanders hotness and I\u2019m here for it,\u201d another said.<\/p>\n

Game of Thrones premiered in April 2011 and concluded on May 2019, with 73 episodes broadcast over eight seasons.<\/p>\n

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