Kit Harington has opened up about his cousin Laurent, who has Down's syndrome.
Last month, Harington was announced as an ambassador of Mencap; a leading UK organisation for people with learning disabilities that also provides support for their families and caregivers.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, the Game of Thrones actor shared how he, his brother Jack and Laurent grew up together, along with two other boys in their family.
Harington doesn't know exactly when he became aware of his cousin's disability, but he considered it "a matter of pride" having a cousin with Down's syndrome when he was young.
"He's incredibly empathetic; his emotional intelligence is hugely in tune," said Harington, who also considers himself "lucky" to know Laurent.
"He has time that other people don't," the actor said. "I have great admiration for him."
What to Read Next
However, he does admit that it has been difficult to deal with Laurent at times.
He explained: "What continues to be hard is when you see him sad. Especially in his teenage years, he'd be like any teenager: he'd have huge mood swings but wouldn't be able to communicate what he was feeling, the solitude he was feeling.
"He'd cry and feel down. With another teenager you could find a way round. That was hard and it still is."
