Arthur Darvill
Arthur Darvill | |
---|---|
Born | Thomas Arthur Darvill 17 June 1982 Birmingham, England |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2001–present |
Thomas Arthur Darvill (born 17 June 1982) is an English actor, known professionally as Arthur Darvill.[1] He is noted for his work in the plays Terre Haute (2006) and Swimming with Sharks (2007), but is probably best known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor's Companion Rory Williams in the television series Doctor Who.
Early and personal life
Darvill's mother was a member of Cannon Hill Theatre - under the directorship of John Blundall - working with masks, puppets and live acting, which was based at Midlands Arts Centre and toured the UK and around the world. Prior to the birth of his sister, Darvill went on some of their tours, helping with setting up of the show. His father, Nigel, played the Hammond organ for artists including Edwin Starr, Ruby Turner, the Fine Young Cannibals and UB40.[2] He attended the Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire from 1993 to 2000.[1] He plays the guitar and keyboard, and in his teens formed an indie band called "Edmund", named after his favourite character in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Edmund Pevensie.[2]
Darvill enjoys cookery and attending the theatre and music concerts. He collects taxidermy.[2]
Career
Darvill joined Stage2 Youth Theatre Company at the age of 10.[2] He was a member from 1991–2000 and landed a job presenting as Tom CITV in 2000, presenting the in vision continuity links between the shows.[citation needed] He left in 2001, and founded his own theatre company - 'Fuego's Men' - performing in the Midlands.[citation needed] At the age of 18 Darvill moved to London with four friends from youth theatre, each having secured a place at a drama school. They moved in together in a house in White City. He trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and has training in stage fighting.[2]
Darvill made his professional stage debut playing condemned criminal Harrison in Edmund White's Terre Haute, which ran at the Assembly Rooms during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His performance was praised by Nicholas de Jongh of the Evening Standard and Susannah Clap of The Observer.[3][4] Darvill appeared in Terra Haute's transfer to the Trafalgar Studios in 2007.[5] His performance gained him a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2007 Evening Standard Theatre Awards.[6]
In 2007, Darvill played Rob in the monologue Stacy, in a performance described as compelling in The Times.[7] Later the same year, he appeared in the Vaudeville Theatre's production of Swimming with Sharks, alongside Christian Slater, Helen Baxendale and Matt Smith, which gained him a London Newcomer Award nomination.[8] In 2008, Darvill made his television debut in the ITV crime drama He Kills Coppers. The same year, he played Edward "Tip" Dorrit in the BBC serial Little Dorrit.[9]
2010 onwards and Doctor Who
In 2010, Darvill made his debut as the recurring character Rory Williams in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, reuniting with his Swimming with Sharks co-star Matt Smith. He also has a minor role as a stable groom in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood. Other films include Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, based on the life of Ian Dury, in which he plays keyboard player Mickey Gallagher, and Pelican Blood, directed by Karl Golden, In summer 2011 he appeared in Doctor Faustus at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.[2]
Darvill is also a musician and composer; he has written songs and music for the Bush Theatre,[citation needed] and composed the score for Che Walker's 2008 play Frontline at the Globe Theatre.[2] In June 2009, the musical Been So Long, based on Ché Walker's 1998 play, opened at the Young Vic. Darvill had worked with Walker for a number of years, since they had first met at RADA, developing the songs and music for the show. The musical was performed at the Latitude Festival in July and had a run at the Traverse Theatre in August. Darvill received a Judge's Discretionary Award from MTM for his music.[10][11] In 2010 Darvill helped promote the solo album of Fyfe Dangerfield, playing with him on sessions for Graham Norton's show and on Xfm.[2]
Arhtur Darvill has confirmed he will be appearing in the seventh series of Doctor Who as Rory Williams along with Matt Smith & Karen Gillan.[12].
Filmography
Film & Television
Year | Title | Format | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Sooty[13] | Television series | Tom | |
2008 | He Kills Coppers | Television serial | Police constable | |
2008 | Little Dorrit | Television series | Edward "Tip" Dorrit | Recurring role in 7 episodes:
|
2009 | Pelican Blood | Feature film | Cameron | |
2010 | Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll | Feature film | Mickey - Keyboard player | |
2010 | Robin Hood | Feature film | Groom | |
2010— | Doctor Who | Television series | Rory Williams |
Series 5 (Recurring- 7 Episodes), Series 6 onwards(regular) |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Director | Performance history |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Little Shop of Horrors | Seymour Krelborn | Liz Light | Stage 2 Theatre Company, The Theatre at the Midlands Arts Centre 17-20 April 1996.[14] |
2006 | Terre Haute | Harrison | George Perrin | Wildman Room, Assembly Rooms, 9–28 August 2006. Tour, April 2007. Trafalgar Studios, 10 May–2 June 2007. |
2007 | Stacy | Rob | Hamish Pirie | Arcola Theatre, 6–24 February 2007. |
Swimming with Sharks | Rex | Wilson Milam | Vaudeville Theatre, 16 October 2007 – 19 January 2008. | |
2010 | Marine Parade | Jo McInnes | Old Market, Hove, 18–23 May 2010 | |
2011 | Doctor Faustus | Mephistopheles | Matthew Dunster | Shakespeare's Globe, London, 18 June–2 October 2011 |
References
- ^ a b "Bromsgrovian News" (.pdf). Bromsgrovian News Review. Spring 2010: p. 17. Retrieved on 8 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Curtis, Nick (27 May 2011). "Is this the end for Rory?". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ^ De Jongh, Nicholas (17 August 2006). "Terrorist's duel on Death Row". Evening Standard (Associated Newspapers): p. 34.
- ^ Clapp, Susannah (20 August 2006). "A bright shiny Troy". The Observer (Guardian News & Media): p. 15.
- ^ Spencer, Charles (26 May 2007). "Must See Theatre". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group): p. 18.
- ^ Jury, Louise (31 October 2007). "Too much talent on London stage for a shortlist, say judges". Evening Standard (Associated Newspapers): p. 1.
- ^ Marlowe, Sam (12 February 2007). "Stacy". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 21.
- ^ Slim, John (18 January 2008). "Youth theatre celebrates its 20th birthday". Birmingham Mail: p. 55.
- ^ Edward Dorrit. BBC Online. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.
- ^ Been So Long. Young Vic. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.
- ^ Marlowe, Sam (19 June 2009). "Been So Long". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 16.
- ^ |url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/15/doctor-who-series-7-rory-will-be-back/%7Ctitle=Rory will be back|
- ^ His appearance in Sooty
- ^ http://www.stage2.org/1996.html
External links
- Arthur Darvill at IMDb
- Arthur Darvill RADA profile – includes list of plays while in training