Hafþór ‘The Mountain’ Björnsson is known for his incredible strength, enormous physique, and role in Game of Thrones, but it is his relationship with his ‘tiny’ wife that has everyone talking.
Now she answers the question everyone is asking.
Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson is an Icelandic strongman and actor, best known for his role as The Mountain in Game of Thrones. Standing 180 cm tall and weighing over 400 pounds, he is one of the strongest men in the world, winning the title of World’s Strongest Man in 2018.
It is almost impossible to describe Haffjur’s size without underestimating it. And his hands? They go far beyond the metaphor of tree trunks — they are truly extraordinary. With 17-inch biceps, a 45-inch waist and a 63-inch chest, his size is simply mind-boggling. Even his fingers look like they were carved for strength.
In 2014, Hafþór Björnsson’s life took a dramatic turn. The Icelandic athlete, known as the third strongest man in history, decided to try his hand at acting.
It all became a reality when he landed the role of Ser Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane in the fourth season of Game of Thrones, opening up a whole new world for himself.
He starred alongside Mike Tyson
At first, he thought someone was playing a joke on him. When he received a call from the casting team while filming in Iceland, he couldn’t believe it.
‘I thought it was some kind of joke. I had no acting experience,’ he recalls. ‘I was just a big guy competing in strongman competitions.’
Bjørnson’s imposing figure and his unforgettable role in the popular television series caused a sensation around the world. He remained in the series for several more seasons, and in 2015 he landed the lead role in the debut season of Philadelphia’s Renaissance Fair. There he played ‘King Thor,’ the fierce leader of a Viking raid intent on capturing the city of Amman.
In 2019, the rising actor took another big step forward. He starred alongside Mike Tyson in the action film War of the Pharaohs, in which Tyson played a former soldier with a mysterious past who leads a group of Egyptian refugees through the desert to protect them from ruthless mercenaries.
Björnson also played a supporting role in the historical epic The Northman, sharing the screen with stars such as Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe.
His ex-girlfriend feared for her life
Believe it or not, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson’s personal life has been far from smooth sailing. The actor-turned-strongman has faced serious allegations, with several ex-girlfriends accusing him of domestic violence.
One of his exes, Thelma Björk Steimann (the mother of his daughter), even claimed that she feared for her life while on holiday, which prompted her to file a lawsuit.
‘I sincerely believed that he would not hit me when I was pregnant,’ Steimann told the Icelandic newspaper Fréttablaðið.
However, the police investigation found no evidence to support her claims, and Bjørnson subsequently sued her for defamation. He continues to maintain that he has never been violent towards women.
Unfortunately, the situation escalated to such an extent that Hafjur was banned from seeing his daughter for three years. Fortunately, things have calmed down over the years, and he now regularly visits his daughter, Teresa Lif, who lives in Denmark with her mother.
Meeting Kelsey Henson
At the end of 2017, a fateful meeting in Alberta changed the life of Hafjur Julius Björnsson. The towering strongman travelled to the Canadian province to participate in a promotional event for Icelandic Mountain Vodka, as well as to take part in a strongman festival in Warwick.
It was at this event that Hafjur met Kelsey Morgan Henson, a Canadian fitness model and waitress who instantly caught his eye. The story goes that their connection began when Kelsey approached Hafjur to ask for a photo, which sparked the beginning of their romance.
The couple quickly found themselves in the spotlight, not only because of Hafshor’s towering height, but also because of the striking difference in height between them. Kelsey is 5 feet 2 inches tall, making her more than a foot and a half shorter than Bjornson. What began as a curious sight soon grew into something much deeper — a genuine and meaningful connection.
In August 2018, the two were married, sealing their bond with a beautiful ceremony.
‘It is with great pleasure that I call Kelsey Morgan Henson my wife,’ the actor wrote alongside a photo of the couple on their wedding day.
“I will hold this beautiful woman in my arms for the rest of our days! I am so excited for all the adventures we will have together. #justmarried.”
Then, on 26 September 2020, their love story entered a new chapter with the arrival of their son, Stormur Magnússon Hafjörðsson, a child who will forever bind them together on their journey.
The loss of their daughter
One of the most heartbreaking moments in Kelsey and Hafsur’s marriage occurred on 10 November 2023. The couple shared the devastating news on Instagram that their daughter had passed away at 21 weeks of pregnancy.
Sharing photos of their brief time with their daughter, Grace Morgan Hafzurdottir, Kelsey and Hafzurdottir recounted their heartbreaking loss in a lengthy Instagram post.
‘It is with deep sorrow that we announce the birth of our daughter, Grace Morgan Hafzurdottir, born on 8 November at 21 1/2 weeks gestation. After she became noticeably less active, we discovered that her heart had stopped beating,’ they shared.
‘Words cannot describe our pain at this loss, nor our happiness at being able to spend time with our daughter. She is very beautiful, with light eyelashes and eyebrows and a little smile for her mummy and daddy. The love we feel for her is overwhelming,’ the post said.
“The grief we feel will stay with us forever, but so will the love. All our hopes and dreams for her have been taken away from us, but I know I will be with her again. Her spirit lives on through us and her brothers and sisters. We ask that you respect our privacy as we mourn this unbearable loss. Thank you all for your kind words and support.”
The question everyone keeps asking
Despite his tough guy image, Thor’s soft side — especially when it comes to Kelsey and their family — keeps fans entertained. Thor continues to thrive after Game of Thrones, juggling fatherhood, fitness and public appearances.
As for Kelsey, she is a reliable support for him, sharing snippets of their life on social media, emphasising their love and resilience.
Fans can’t get enough of their height difference, their down-to-earth personalities, and the heartfelt moments they share. It’s clear that despite their physical mismatch, this couple is a perfect fit in every other way.
Despite their perfect romance, fans keep coming back to one burning question:
How does a 6’9‘ giant kiss his 5’2’ wife?
During an Instagram Q&A session, the couple finally answered this favourite question of fans. One cheeky fan asked, ‘Do you jump into his arms every time and wrap your legs around his waist? Please post a photo of this impressive feat!’
Kelsey’s response did not disappoint, offering a humorous yet practical solution. ‘He bends down, I stand on my tiptoes. Or I just say, “Screw it, pick me up!”’ she replied, conveying the playful dynamic of the couple’s relationship.
Despite their height difference, Thor and Kelsey continue to prove that love knows no bounds, balancing humour, love and a sense of adventure in every moment they share. It’s clear that while they may seem mismatched on paper, in every other way they are the perfect couple.
And now that the mystery of their kiss has finally been revealed, they’ve given the internet yet another reason to follow their every move.
