'Game of Thrones' King Joffery Actor Jack Gleeson Rails Against Celebrity Lifestyle
Jack Gleeson, who plays "Game Of Thrones" evil King Joffery, is a 21-year-old talented actor. However, Gleeson has previously spoken about disliking be an actor, and even said that he will quit acting. He has recently expressed his views again, speaking out against the culture of being a celebrity during a discussion at Oxford Union.
Gleeson said when he began acting on "Game of Thrones" life was different than he expected and he did not like it.
"It was an environment from which I instantly wanted to retreat. I detested the superficial elevation and commodification of it all, juxtaposed with the grotesque self-involvement it would sometimes draw out in me," the young actor said.
He went on to rail against the celebrity lifestyle.
"What's ironic is that you see celebrity endorsing things like, you know, musical tampons and appearing in advertisements for lavender scented teeth whitener or something. Wielding goods whose sell-by dates [will] ironically, probably, outlast theirs. Having one's image, and effectively life, democratized, dehumanizes and sometimes objectifies it into an entertainment product. What sort of valuation of the ego would one have once you've let it been preyed upon by the public for years and years? Perhaps, it becomes truly just skin and bones," the actor said.
The actor has been discussing his distaste for acting since back in 2012. In an interview with GQ he said, "[A]fter a long day of work, you're just happy to take off all your annoying armor and the costumes and just be yourself again. I'm quite relieved when I can stop being Joffery."