Arthur Darvill

Arthur Darvill

Darvill at 2014 Fan Expo Canada
Born Thomas Arthur Darvill
(1982-06-17) 17 June 1982
Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Nationality British
Alma mater Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation Actor, musician
Years active 2000–present
Spouse(s) Ines De Clerq (married 2015-present)

Thomas Arthur Darvill (born 17 June 1982), known professionally as Arthur Darvill, is an English actor and musician.[1] He is known for playing Rory Williams, one of the Eleventh Doctor's companions in the television series Doctor Who, and as Rev. Paul Coates in Broadchurch (2013–present).[2] In 2013-2014 he appeared in the lead role in the theatre musical Once in the West End and on Broadway. He portrays Rip Hunter in Legends of Tomorrow.

Early life

Darvill's mother Ellie is an actress and during Arthur's early childhood she worked with masks, puppets and live acting as a member of Cannon Hill Theatre, which was based at Midlands Arts Centre, and toured Britain and the world. She is also known as the puppeteer and voice behind Why Bird from Playdays. Prior to the birth of his sister, Darvill went on some of the tours, helping with the setting up of the shows. His father Nigel played the Hammond organ for artists including Edwin Starr, Ruby Turner, Fine Young Cannibals and UB40.[3] Darvill attended Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire from 1993 to 2000.[1]

Career

Early work

Darvill joined Stage2 Youth Theatre Company at the age of 10.[3] He was a member from 1991 to 2000 and landed a job on CITV in 2000, presenting the continuity links between the shows; during this time he was billed as Tom Darvill.[4] He left in 2001, founded his own theatre company (called Fuego's Men), and performed in the Midlands. At the age of 21, 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.[3][5]

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.[6][7] Darvill appeared in Terra Haute's transfer to Trafalgar Studios in 2007.[8] His performance gained him a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2007 Evening Standard Theatre Awards.[9]

Darvill played Rob in the 2007 monologue Stacy, in a performance The Times described as "compelling".[10] 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).[11]

Television and film

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.[12]

Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill at Comic-Con 2012.

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 confirmed that he would be appearing in the seventh series;[13] before he and his co-star Karen Gillan (on-screen wife Amy Pond) left in the fifth episode.[14]

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.[3][5] After his departure from Doctor Who he was cast in the highly rated crime drama Broadchurch as the vicar, alongside former Doctor Who stars David Tennant and Olivia Colman.[15]

In March 2015, it was announced that Darvill had been cast as the time-traveller Rip Hunter in the series Legends of Tomorrow, which is a spin-off of Arrow and The Flash.[16]

Other work

Darvill is also a musician and composer; he has written songs and music for the Bush Theatre, and composed the score for Che Walker's 2008 play The Frontline at Shakespeare's Globe.[3] In June 2009, the musical Been So Long, based on Ché Walker's 1998 play, opened at the Young Vic and in September 2013 another collaboration, The Lightning Child, opened at the Globe. 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.[17][18] In 2010, Darvill helped promote the solo album of Fyfe Dangerfield, playing with him on sessions for Graham Norton's show and on Xfm.[3]

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.[19]

On 19 April 2013 he took over the lead male role of Guy from the musical Once, on Broadway, New York opposite new co-star Joanna Christie. The two also made an appearance on the 2013 Tony Awards to perform a number and to present the award for best scenery[20][21][22] Darvill continued the role in the West End production from 17 March 2014 until 10 May 2014.[23]

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.[3] He enjoys cooking and attending the theatre and music concerts. He collects taxidermy.[3] He is close friends with his Doctor Who co-stars Karen Gillan and Matt Smith.[24]

Darvill was one of the celebrities, along with Tom Hiddleston, Jo Brand, E. L. James and Rachel Riley, to design and sign his own card for the UK-based charity Thomas Coram Foundation for Children. The campaign was launched by crafting company Stampin' Up! UK and the cards were auctioned off on eBay during May 2014.[25]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Sooty Tom
2008 He Kills Coppers Police constable
2008 Little Dorrit Edward "Tip" Dorrit 7 episodes
2010–2012 Doctor Who Rory Williams Recurring Role Series 5, Main Role Series 6-7A (27 episodes)
2012 The Paradise Bradley Burroughs 1 episode
2013–present Broadchurch Reverend Paul Coates Series 1 (2013) and Series 2 (2015)
2013 The White Queen Henry Stafford 2 episodes
2016 Legends of Tomorrow Rip Hunter Main role Season 1, Recurring role Season 2

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Pelican Blood Cameron
2010 Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Mick Gallagher
2010 Robin Hood Groom
2014 Penguin Sam Short film
Voice

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Krelborn Midlands Arts Centre[26]
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, East Sussex
2011 Doctor Faustus Mephistopheles Shakespeare's Globe
2012 Our Boys Parry Duchess Theatre
2013-2014 Once Guy Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
Phoenix Theatre
2014-2015Treasure IslandLong John SilverRoyal National Theatre
National Theatre Live

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Doctor Who: The Gunpowder Plot Rory Williams Voice and likeness

References

  1. 1 2 "Two Old Bromsgrovians chosen for BBC Adaptation" (PDF). Bromsgrovian News Review. Spring 2010. p. 17. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  2. ↑ Raeside, Julia (15 September 2012). "Doctor Who: Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill on life with the timelord". London: The Guardian.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Curtis, Nick (27 May 2011). "Is this the end for Rory?". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  4. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (20 June 2016). "What happened to the CITV presenters, from Pat Sharp to Arthur Darvill?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Arthur Darvill goes from Doctor Who to Doctor Faustus". BBC. 10 June 2011.
  6. ↑ De Jongh, Nicholas (17 August 2006). "Terrorist's duel on Death Row". Evening Standard (Associated Newspapers): p. 34.
  7. ↑ Clapp, Susannah (20 August 2006). "A bright shiny Troy". The Observer (Guardian News & Media): p. 15.
  8. ↑ Spencer, Charles (26 May 2007). "Must See Theatre". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group): p. 18.
  9. ↑ Jury, Louise (31 October 2007). "Too much talent on London stage for a shortlist, say judges". Evening Standard (Associated Newspapers): p. 1.
  10. ↑ Marlowe, Sam (12 February 2007). "Stacy". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 21.
  11. ↑ Slim, John (18 January 2008). "Youth theatre celebrates its 20th birthday". Birmingham Mail: p. 55.
  12. ↑ Edward Dorrit. BBC Online. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.
  13. ↑ "Rory will be back".
  14. ↑ "Gillan and Darvill to leave next series".
  15. ↑ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (28 September 2012). "Arthur Darvill interview: 'I'm done with Doctor Who'". London: Daily Telegraph.
  16. ↑ "CW's 'Flash'/'Arrow' Spinoff Casts Time Traveler With 'Doctor Who' Alum". The Hollywood Reporter. 30 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Been So Long. Young Vic. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.
  18. ↑ Marlowe, Sam (19 June 2009). "Been So Long". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 16.
  19. ↑ "What Rory Did Next — Arthur Darvill Is Sam The Penguin". Penguin. Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  20. ↑ David Gordon (30 May 2013). "Broadway's Once Celebrates 500th Performance and Welcomes Joanna Christie and Dr. Who's Arthur Darvill". TheaterMania.com.
  21. ↑ Tony Awards 2013 - Once with Arthur Darvill and Johanna Christie. 10 June 2013 – via YouTube.
  22. ↑ "Tony Awards 2013 live blog". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 June 2013.
  23. ↑ Amer, Matthew (21 February 2014). "Arthur Darvill to lead London Once". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  24. ↑ Susanna Lazarus. "Arthur Darvill: I will definitely work with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan again". RadioTimes.
  25. ↑ Rebecca Pocklington (6 May 2014). "Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Jo Brand and more celebrities design and sign cards for UK's first children's charity". Mirror Online. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Stage2 Youth Theatre &No. 124; 1996". Stage2.org. Retrieved 7 February 2013.

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