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Arthur Darvill

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Arthur Darvill
Born
Thomas Arthur Darvill

(1982-06-17) 17 June 1982 (age 42)
Birmingham, England
OccupationActor
Years active2001–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 currently best known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor's companion Rory Williams in the television series Doctor Who.

Early life

Darvill's mother worked with masks, puppets, and live acting as a member of Cannon Hill Puppet Theatre, which was based at Midlands Arts Centre, and toured England and the world. Prior to the birth of his sister, Darvill went on some of the tours, helping with the setting up of the show. His father 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]

Career

Early work

Darvill joined Stage2 Youth Theatre Company at the age of 10.[2] He was a member from 1991 to 2000 and landed a job on CITV in 2000, presenting the continuity links between the shows.[citation needed] He left in 2001, founded his own theatre company (called Fuego's Men), and performed 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 into a house in White City together. Darvill trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and is trained in stage combat.[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 Trafalgar Studios in 2007.[5] His performance gained him a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2007 Evening Standard Theatre Awards.[6]

Darvill played Rob in the 2007 monologue Stacy, in a performance The Times described as "compelling".[7] Later that year, he appeared in the Vaudeville Theatre's production of Swimming with Sharks with 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

Darvill began playing Rory Williams, companion to the Eleventh Doctor, in the fifth series of the BBC's science fiction show Doctor Who (reuniting with his Swimming with Sharks co-star Matt Smith). He became a regular character in the sixth series, and has confirmed that he will be appearing in the seventh series;[10] however, the seventh series will be his last.[11] Darvill had a minor role as a stable groom in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, and played Mick Gallagher in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll. 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.[12][13] 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]

Darvill has undertaken a number of radio and voice projects, including Doctor Who audiobooks. In December 2011, he played Keith Moon for BBC Radio 4's Burning Both Ends. In 2012, he voiced Gulliver in Radio 4's Gulliver's Travels and Sam in the short film Penguin.[14]

Personal life

Darvill plays the guitar and keyboard and formed an indie band called Edmund in his teenage years, named after Edmund Pevensie, his favourite character in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[2] He enjoys cookery and attending the theatre and music concerts. He collects taxidermy.[2]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Sooty Tom[15]
2008 He Kills Coppers Police constable
2008 Little Dorrit Edward "Tip" Dorrit 7 episodes
2010–2012 Doctor Who Rory Williams Series 5–7

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Pelican Blood Cameron
2010 Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Mick Gallagher
2010 Robin Hood Groom
2012 Penguin Sam Short film
Voice

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Krelborn Midlands Arts Centre[16]
2006 Terre Haute Harrison Wildman Room, Assembly Rooms
Trafalgar Studios
2007 Stacy Rob Arcola Theatre
2007 Swimming with Sharks Rex Vaudeville Theatre
2010 Marine Parade Old Market, Hove
2011 Doctor Faustus Mephistopheles Shakespeare's Globe

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Doctor Who: The Gunpowder Plot Rory Williams Voice and likeness

References

  1. ^ a b "Bromsgrovian News" (.pdf). Bromsgrovian News Review. Spring 2010: p. 17. Retrieved on 8 May 2010.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ De Jongh, Nicholas (17 August 2006). "Terrorist's duel on Death Row". Evening Standard (Associated Newspapers): p. 34.
  4. ^ Clapp, Susannah (20 August 2006). "A bright shiny Troy". The Observer (Guardian News & Media): p. 15.
  5. ^ Spencer, Charles (26 May 2007). "Must See Theatre". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group): p. 18.
  6. ^ Jury, Louise (31 October 2007). "Too much talent on London stage for a shortlist, say judges". Evening Standard (Associated Newspapers): p. 1.
  7. ^ Marlowe, Sam (12 February 2007). "Stacy". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 21.
  8. ^ Slim, John (18 January 2008). "Youth theatre celebrates its 20th birthday". Birmingham Mail: p. 55.
  9. ^ Edward Dorrit. BBC Online. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.
  10. ^ "Rory will be back".
  11. ^ "Gillan and Darvill to leave next series".
  12. ^ Been So Long. Young Vic. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.
  13. ^ Marlowe, Sam (19 June 2009). "Been So Long". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 16.
  14. ^ "What Rory Did Next - Arthur Darvill Is Sam The Penguin". Penguin. Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 02/02/2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. ^ Darvill's appearance in Sooty
  16. ^ http://www.stage2.org/1996.html
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