'Pompeii' director Paul W.S. Anderson recently praised 'Game Of Thrones' star Kit Harington for his talent and professionalism.

Anderson told BANG Showbiz that the young actor is like a "classic movie star."

''Kit does hark back to a lot of my favourite actors. People like Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen," Anderson explained.

He added, ''They were famous for going through scripts and dialogue and saying, 'You know what I can do this just with a look or just the way I hold myself.' To me, he is a classic movie star in that regard.''

Harington and Anderson worked together on 'Pompeii' which also starred Emily Browning and Keifer Sutherland. The film was released in April.

According to Xpose Entertainment, Anderson cleared the rumors about the production physically altering Harington's physique. The helmer insisted that Kit Harington's body in the movie was all thanks to British actor's determination to become like his character Milo.

''He became a warrior. Most of that, his body, didn't come from going to the gym a lot," he filmmaker revealed. "It came from doing endless sword fighting training and just diet. In that regard he became the gladiator that he was playing.''

He even impressed Neil Marshall, who directed an episode of 'Game Of Thrones.' Marshall reportedly sent the 'Resident Evil director an email thanking him for turning Harington into "an amazing gladiator."

Anderson added, "He said it's much easier to shoot all the action scenes. He really went to gladiator bootcamp.''

Kit Harington will be letting go of his scruffy looks soon for the World War I film, 'Testament Of Youth.' He will be playing Roland Leighton, a (beardless) young soldier ripped away from his lover's arms because of war.

Fans will once again see Jon Snow in all his bearded glory for 'Game Of Thrones' season five which will air in 2015.