Why Kit Harington auditioned for Game of Thrones with a black eye

Kit Harington auditioned for Game of Thrones with a black eye he received after getting into a fight at a McDonald's restaurant the night before.

The 29-year-old actor plays Jon Snow in HBO's fantasy series and he has revealed he was very worried about what impression he would make to bosses when he walked in with a bruise on his face from the fracas at the fast food outlet which broke out over a girl he was dating.

In an interview with W magazine, he shared: "I had been in a fight the night before. I got in this fight with this guy at McDonald's ... I was with this girl I was sort of dating at the time.

"He quite quickly started to be really rude to the woman I was with ... then he called her something like an ugly pig and I got up. I said, 'No you can't call her that, get up.' So I called him up for a fight, which I had never done before.

"He got up and he just kept (getting taller) and I realised that I had to, at that point, throw the first punch - otherwise I'd look like a complete wimp. And I got battered."

Despite his concerns about his bruise, Kit thinks the injury actually helped him land the role of Snow - who was crowned King of the North in the Season 6 finale.

He added: "I went to the Jon Snow audition with a black eye, which I think that man who punched me in the face may have helped me get the job. So, if you're watching, thank you!"

In the last episode of Season 6 Game of Thrones, Jon Snow is declared King of the North.

Kit is currently dating his former Game of Thrones co-star Rose Leslie, who played his on-screen love interest Ygritte. They have been an item since 2012 and he admits their storyline on the show resulted in them falling in love in real life.

He previously said: "If you're already attracted to someone, and then they play your love interest in the show, it becomes very easy to fall in love."

- Bang! Showbiz