‘Game of Thrones’ Star Kristian Nairn Comes Out: ‘I’ve Been Waiting for Someone to Ask’

The actor plays fan-favorite character Hodor on the popular HBO series

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“Game of Thrones” star Kristian Nairn, who plays Bran Stark’s 6′ 10″ protector Hodor, is fully aware that the gay community considers him “a bear” — because he is a member of that community.

The actor has been waiting for someone to ask him about his sexuality so he could publicly “stand up and be counted.”

“Well, in all honesty, when you talk about ‘the gay community,’ you are talking about MY community,” Nairn told WinterIsComing.net when asked about his “bear” status. “I am aware of it, yeah, and I think it’s really lovely. There’s not a day that I don’t get a few messages, but 99 percent or more are super sweet and nothing smutty at all!”

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A “bear” in the LGBT community is considered a large, typically hairy man who projects an image of rugged masculinity.

“Again, it’s a privilege, and I really mean that,” the Irish actor continued. “I’ve never hidden my sexuality from anyone my whole life, in fact. And I’ve been waiting for someone to ask about it in an interview, because it’s not something you just blurt out. I’ve tried to lead the questions a few times, to no avail!”

Nairn, a DJ and actor who hails from Belfast in Northern Ireland, says he understands why it has taken so long for someone to ask about his sexuality, and respects the privacy of other performers who may not want to address their own publicly, but he felt it was important to be open about it.

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“It’s a very small part of who I am on the whole, but nonetheless, in this day and age, it’s important to stand up and be counted,” Nairn added. “I have and always will stand my ground. So, yeah, people have been great, on the show, but I don’t see why it would be an issue.”

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