Jason Momoa recently shared in an interview with InStyle that his departure from the hit series Game of Thrones back in 2011 left him in dire financial straits.
Following the death of his character on the show, Momoa found himself grappling with overwhelming debt and difficulty in making ends meet for his family, including his wife, actress Lisa Bonet, and their two children.
Reflecting on that challenging period, Momoa candidly expressed, “I mean, we were starving after Game of Thrones.
I couldn’t get work.
It’s very challenging when you have babies and you’re completely in debt.”
Despite having a career in acting since the late 1990s and appearing in various series such as Baywatch: Hawaii, North Shore, and Stargate Atlantis, it was his portrayal of Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones that truly elevated his visibility in the industry.
Interestingly, even with the immense popularity and exposure brought about by his role in GoT, Momoa disclosed to EW’s James Hibberd that playing the fierce Dothraki leader led some to unfairly assume he had limitations in performing dialogue or could only excel in stoic warrior characters.
Recounting the aftermath, Momoa shared, “For a while afterward, a lot of people bagged on me.
It hurt me a lot.
People thought I didn’t speak English.
They didn’t know I was playing a role.”
However, Momoa clarified that his true persona greatly differed from the intimidating Drogo, showcasing a more affectionate and amiable side in reality.
Despite initial misconceptions, viewers eventually grew to adore his character upon revisiting the series.
Subsequently, Momoa’s fortunes took a positive turn with his casting as Arthur Curry/Aquaman in Justice League, followed by headlining his solo superhero venture in 2018’s Aquaman, which amassed over $1.1 billion globally.
Looking ahead, the 41-year-old actor is set to stay busy with reprising his lead role in the second season of Apple TV+’s See and featuring in Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated film, Dune.
Reflecting on his achievements, Momoa admitted to InStyle that he still finds it surreal to be associated with esteemed actors like Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem, as seen in the Dune trailer.
His humility shines through as he remarked
