Arthur Darvill

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Arthur Darvill
Arthur Darvill in 2022
Born
Thomas Arthur Darvill

(1982-06-17) 17 June 1982 (age 41)
Birmingham, England
OccupationActor
Years active
  • 1996
  • 2001
  • 2008–present
SpouseInès De Clercq (m. 2015)

Thomas Arthur Darvill (born 17 June 1982) is an English actor.[1] He is known for portraying Rory Williams, a companion of the Eleventh Doctor in the television series Doctor Who (2010–2012), as well as Rip Hunter in Legends of Tomorrow (2016–2018 and 2021) and Rev. Paul Coates in Broadchurch (2013–2017).[2] From 2013 to 2014, he appeared in the lead role in the theatre musical Once in the West End and on Broadway. He played Curley in the West End revival of Oklahoma!, for which he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Early life[edit]

Arthur Thomas Darvill was born in Birmingham on 17 June 1982. His mother, Ellie, is an actress; during his early childhood, she worked with masks, puppets and live acting as a member of Cannon Hill Theatre at the Midlands Arts Centre, and toured the world. She is also known as the puppeteer and voice behind Why Bird from Playdays. 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[edit]

Early work[edit]

Darvill joined Stage2 Youth Theatre Company at the age of 10.[3] He was a member from 1991 to 2000, and had an early 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.[citation needed] 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 Clapp of The Observer.[6][7] Darvill appeared in Terre 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, film and theatre[edit]

Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill at Comic-Con 2012.

In 2008, Darvill made his television acting debut in the ITV crime drama He Kills Coppers. The same year, he played Edward "Tip" Dorrit in the BBC serial Little Dorrit.[12] 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 (both 2010). In the summer of 2011, he played Mephistopheles "an agent of the Devil in human form" in Doctor Faustus at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London,[3][5] a production which was subsequently issued as a DVD. After his departure from Doctor Who he was cast in the drama Broadchurch as vicar Paul Coates, alongside David Tennant and Olivia Colman.[15]

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 performers also made an appearance on the 2013 Tony Awards to perform a number and to present the award for best scenery.[16][17][18] Darvill continued the role in the West End production from 17 March 2014 until 10 May 2014.[19]

In March 2015, Darvill was cast as the time-traveller Rip Hunter in the series Legends of Tomorrow.[20] He was written out of the show in 2018, by the end of the third season.[21] However, he returned in 2021 for the show's one hundredth episode. In 2019, Darvill took on the role of Oscar Lindquist in the West End revival of Sweet Charity.

In 2022, Darvill played the lead male role of Curly McLain in the musical Oklahoma! at the Young Vic.[22] In 2023, he continued the role in the West End production.[23]

Music and audio work[edit]

Darvill is also a musician and a composer; he has written songs and music for the Bush Theatre,[citation needed] 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.[24][25] 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.[26]

He collaborated with playwright Sam Holcroft on a musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox which premiered at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, in November 2016.

In 2018, Darvill started the new musical collective Paperlands with Ines De Clercq. The collective performed at St Pancras Old Church on 22 November 2018.[27] They took some time to record in a studio in December of that year.[28]

In 2020, Darvill appeared on the concept album for Vikki Stone and Katie Mulgrew's musical #ZoologicalSociety.[29][30] Despite the concert being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album featuring Darvill was released digitally on 27 March 2020.

On 13 June 2020 it was confirmed that Darvill would reprise his role as Rory Williams with Big Finish Productions, in a multi-box set series entitled The Lone Centurion, chronicling the character's time between the episodes "The Pandorica Opens" and "The Big Bang".[31]

Personal life[edit]

Darvill plays the guitar and keyboards, and formed an indie band called Edmund in his teenage years; it was named after Edmund Pevensie, his favourite character in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[3] He enjoys cooking and attending the theatre and concerts. He also collects taxidermy.[3] He is close friends with his Doctor Who former co-stars Karen Gillan and Matt Smith.[32]

Alongside other British celebrities, Darvill designed and signed his own card for the UK-based charity Thomas Coram Foundation for Children. The cards were auctioned off on eBay during May 2014.[33]

In 2015, Darvill married Inès De Clercq.[34]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Intangible Billy Short film
2010 Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll Mick Gallagher
Robin Hood Groom
Pelican Blood Cameron
2013 Crazy for You Charlie Short film
2014 Penguin Sam (voice)
Captcha Mel
2018 In Wonderland Michael
Bertie Tom
Shut Up and Dig Ben
2021 People You May Know Adam

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Sooty Tom
2008 He Kills Coppers PC Wallis TV film
Little Dorrit Edward "Tip" Dorrit 7 episodes
2010–2012 Doctor Who Rory Williams 27 episodes:
2012 Pond Life 5 mini-episodes
The Paradise Bradley Burroughs Episode: "#1.5"
2013–2017 Broadchurch Reverend Paul Coates 23 episodes
2013 The White Queen Henry Stafford 2 episodes
2015 Danny and the Human Zoo Jonesy TV film
2016–2018, 2021 Legends of Tomorrow Rip Hunter 35 episodes:
2019 Sticky Dr. Boot Episode: "Where Eagles Fap"
World on Fire Vernon Hunter 3 episodes
2020 Unprecedented Danny Segment: "Romantic Distancing"
2022 Grace Kit Bishop / Jecks Episode: "Not Dead Enough"
The Sandman Richard Madoc Episode: "Calliope"
2023 Three Little Birds Ernest Wantage 5 episodes

Theatre[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Little Shop of Horrors Seymour Krelborn Midlands Arts Centre[37]
2006 Terre Haute Harrison Wildman Room, Assembly Rooms
Trafalgar Studios
2007 Stacy Rob Arcola Theatre
Swimming with Sharks Rex Vaudeville Theatre
2010 Marine Parade Christopher 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
2014–2015 Treasure Island Long John Silver Royal National Theatre
National Theatre Live
2017 Honeymoon in Vegas Jack Singer London Palladium
2018 Genesis Inc. Miles / Abraham Hampstead Theatre
2019 Sweet Charity Oscar Donmar Warehouse
The Antipodes Dave Royal National Theatre
2021 Rare Earth Mettle Henry Finn Royal Court Theatre
2022–2023 Oklahoma! Curly McLain Young Vic
Wyndham's Theatre
2023 Once Guy Shanghai Culture Square
Shenzen Grand Theatre
Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Doctor Who: The Gunpowder Plot Rory Williams Also likeness
2021 The Magnificent Trufflepigs Adam

Audio[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Dark Shadows: Speak No Evil Tad Collins Big Finish Productions
Road Trip Doctor Jared Jones
Skarlet Jake Lawton Audible
2013 Dark Shadows: Beneath the Veil Alfie Chapman
2014 Frankenstein Victor Frankenstein Big Finish Productions
2018 Torchwood: Believe Frank Layton
2020 Time Lord Victorious: Echoes of Extinction Cooke
The Sandman William Shakespeare Audible
2021–2022 The Lone Centurion Rory Williams Big Finish Productions
Eliza: A Robot Story[38] Him Crowd Network
2023 Good material Andy Penguin Audio

Radio[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2011 The Tales of Max Carrados Max Carrados BBC Radio 4
Burning Both Ends: When Oliver Reed Met Keith Moon Keith Moon
2012 Jonathan Swift: Gulliver's Travels Gulliver
2017 Into the Water Mark
2018 Billy Ruffian Maitland
Hi Spec Ben
Seven Songs for Simon Dixelius Simon Dixelius

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Two Old Bromsgrovians chosen for BBC Adaptation" (PDF). Bromsgrovian News Review. Spring 2010. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  2. ^ Raeside, Julia (15 September 2012). "Doctor Who: Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill on life with the timelord". The Guardian. London.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Curtis, Nick (27 May 2011). "Is this the end for Rory?". 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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Doctor Who Series 7: Rory Will be Back | SFX". Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  14. ^ "Gillan and Darvill to leave next series". Digitalspy.co.uk. 15 December 2011.
  15. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (28 September 2012). "Arthur Darvill interview: 'I'm done with Doctor Who'". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  16. ^ David Gordon (30 May 2013). "Broadway's Once Celebrates 500th Performance and Welcomes Joanna Christie and Dr. Who's Arthur Darvill". TheaterMania.com.
  17. ^ Tony Awards 2013 – Once with Arthur Darvill and Johanna Christie. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Tony Awards 2013 live blog". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 June 2013.
  19. ^ Amer, Matthew (21 February 2014). "Arthur Darvill to lead London Once". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  20. ^ "CW's 'Flash'/'Arrow' Spinoff Casts Time Traveler With 'Doctor Who' Alum". The Hollywood Reporter. 30 March 2015.
  21. ^ "Legends of Tomorrow Season 4: Rip Hunter Won't Return". ScreenRant. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  22. ^ Thomas, Sophie (17 March 2022). "Arthur Darvill to star in 'Oklahoma!' at Young Vic". LondonTheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  23. ^ Thomas, Kevin (16 January 2023). "Full casting announced for Oklahoma!". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  24. ^ Been So Long. Young Vic. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.
  25. ^ Marlowe, Sam (19 June 2009). "Been So Long". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 16.
  26. ^ "What Rory Did Next — Arthur Darvill Is Sam The Penguin". Penguin. Bleeding Cool. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  27. ^ BWW News Desk. "Declan Bennett and Arthur Darvill to Appear at St Pancras Old Church". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  28. ^ PAPERLANDS (2 December 2018). "Preparing for a week in the studio. Warming up our digits to make sure we put them in the right place at the right time". @paperlandsmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  29. ^ RattyBurvil (27 March 2020). "Hey Twitter peeps. How are you all?". Retrieved 11 April 2020. I play a sexually challenged panda. Of course.
  30. ^ Alex Wood (13 March 2020). "#ZoologicalSociety musical album and concert to star Sharon D Clarke, Arthur Darvill and more". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Rory Williams is The Lone Centurion! - News - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com.
  32. ^ Susanna Lazarus. "Arthur Darvill: I will definitely work with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan again". RadioTimes.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ "Who is Arthur Darvill's wife Ines De clercq? Get To Know Her". Hollywood Mask. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Comic-Con 2017: Rip Hunter, Captain Cold and Damien Darhk Returning to Legends of Tomorrow". IGN. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  36. ^ Agard, Chancellor (13 October 2021). "'Legends of Tomorrow' brings back 7 heroes in 100th episode photos". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Stage2 Youth Theatre &No. 124; 1996". Stage2.org. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  38. ^ "Eliza: A Robot Story". Crowd Network. Retrieved 21 February 2024.

External links[edit]

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