Hold the Door: What Is Kristian Nairn Up To 4 Years After GoT Finale?
Kristian Nairn, who played Hodor in Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2016, has certainly had an eventful few years since leaving the show.
His heroic exit, while holding a door shut to save Meera Reed and Bran Stark from the White Walkers, was a sad ending for Nairn and for fans of the show. But it was also the beginning of a new chapter.
Before landing the role of Hodor, Nairn was a DJ at Belfast gay club, Kremlin. Following his stint on the show, he carried on DJing, creating Rave of Thrones, a set that took him all around the world. He's also performed at festivals in several countries and released multiple albums.
But he hasn't completely turned his back on acting. Nairn starred in the HBO comedy show Our Flag Means Death which was released in 2022. He's also been cast in ABC's The Rookie and The Sidemen Show – a UK reality web series in which The Sidemen perform stunts and take on challenges alongside celebrities.
Besides that, he appeared on the big screen in movies such as Robin Hood: The Rebellion, Mythica: The Godslayer and The Appearance.
Midway through his time as Hodor, Nairn came out as gay in a 2014 interview with Fansified. While he described his sexuality as only a minor part of who he is as a person in general, he felt that the platform he had meant he should "stand up and be counted." Since revealing his sexuality, Nairn has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights – and he still uses his social media platforms to raise awareness of issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite all this, he hasn't forgotten Hodor and says happy to the gentle giant "forever." Nairn is a regular at Game of Thrones fan events both in-person and online and says he loves interacting with the fans – many of whom just want him to hold the door for them.
As a popular recurring character, Hodor had quite the following among fans. And the manner of his death was such that he died a hero and remains popular to this day. Fortunately, his varied career after leaving Game of Thrones (combined with his appearances at events and conventions) means there are still plenty of ways for Kristian Nairn fans to enjoy his work and engage with him.