Aidan Turner
{{Distinguish|Aiden Turner}}
{{pp-pc1}}
{{short description|Irish actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Aidan Turner
| image = Aidan_Turner_2013.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Turner in 2013
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1983|6|19}}
| birth_place = Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland
| occupation = Actor
| spouse = {{marriage|Caitlin FitzGerald|2020}}
| children = 1
| years_active = 2005–present
}}
Aidan Turner (born 19 June 1983) is an Irish actor. He began his career in the RTÉ medical drama The Clinic (2008–2009) and the BBC series Desperate Romantics (2009). He later gained attention for co-starring as one of the main leads in the popular BBC Three series Being Human (2009–2011), and for playing the dwarf Kíli in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014), before starring as the eponymous character in the BBC adaptation of Winston Graham's Poldark (2015–2019).
Early life and education
Aidan Turner was born at home in Clondalkin, a suburban town of Dublin, on 19 June 1983.{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/people/aidan-turner/|title=Aidan Turner Biography|publisher=TV.com|access-date=27 October 2011|archive-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512165907/http://www.tv.com/people/aidan-turner/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/info/aidan-turner-info.aspx|title=Aidan Turner Date of Birth|publisher=BuddyTV.com|access-date=27 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012116/http://www.buddytv.com/info/aidan-turner-info.aspx|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}} The family moved later to Walkinstown.{{cite news| url= http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/poldark-star-aidan-turners-incredible-8814790|title=Poldark star Aidan Turner's incredible journey from dance sensation to international acting star|first=Emma|last=McMenamy|date=12 September 2016}}
Turner attended secondary school at St Mac Dara's Community College in Templeogue before leaving to join his older brother at Firhouse Community College, where, he said, he "probably wasn't a great student".{{cite news| url= https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/aidan-turner-it-would-be-embarrassing-if-poldark-bombed-1.2774156|title=Aidan Turner: 'It would be embarrassing if Poldark bombed'|first=Katy|last=Harrington|date=1 September 2016}}
Before becoming an actor, Turner was a successful ballroom dancer, once obtaining third place in the adult section of the Irish National Championships. After finishing secondary school, he briefly worked as an apprentice electrician, alongside his father. After he saw a notice up in Dublin's Gaiety School of Acting, and having become interested in acting while working in a cinema, he applied.{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/being-a-sex-symbol-is-a-little-awkward-aidan-turner-on-his-rise-to-fame-and-redefining-poldark-31033406.html|title='Being a sex symbol is a little awkward' – Aidan Turner on his rise to fame, and redefining Poldark|date=2 March 2015|last=Tate|first=Gabriel|access-date=12 March 2015|work=Irish Independent}}{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/564152/Aidan-Turner-Poldark-Captain-Ross|title=Aidan Turner reveals his feelings about new show Poldark|author=Anna Pukas|work=Daily Express|date=16 March 2015 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/12021336/Aidan-Turner-I-dont-want-to-play-it-safe.html|title=Aidan Turner: 'I don't want to play it safe'|date=27 November 2015|last=Gordon|first=Bryony|access-date=1 April 2016|work=The Telegraph}} He graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2004.
Career
After graduating, Turner appeared in several theatre plays, including The Plough and the Stars, Romeo and Juliet, and A Cry from Heaven.{{cite web|url=http://www.lisarichards.ie/actorsm/aidan-turner-actor|title=Aidan Turner|publisher=LisaRichards.ie|access-date=27 October 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/irishpeople/aidan-turner.html |title=Irish People and Celebrity Central – Aidan Turner|work=Irishcentral.com |access-date=3 January 2014}}
File:Crichlow,_Turner,_Tovey,_Whithouse.jpg castmates Lenora Crichlow and Russell Tovey, and creator Toby Whithouse (right) in 2009]]
Turner's television acting career began in 2007 with an uncredited appearance on the first episode of The Tudors.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11542854/Aidan-Turner-the-life-and-work-of-the-Poldark-star.html|title=Aidan Turner: his life and work|date=29 December 2015|last=Ward|first=Rachel|access-date=1 April 2016|work=The Telegraph}} In the same year he produced and starred in the film Porcelain, directed by Gavin Cleland, which was shot in a convent in Dublin. However only a trailer of the movie was ever released.{{cite web|url=http://www.iftn.ie/actors/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4280274&tpl=archnews&force=1|title=hooting Wraps on 'Porcelain'|date=26 April 2007|access-date=16 October 2018}}
Between 2008 and 2009, he appeared in a recurring role on The Clinic.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/369/mitchell-aidan-turner.jsp |title=John Mitchell (Aidan Turner) |publisher=BBCAmerica.com |access-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920180434/http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/369/mitchell-aidan-turner.jsp |archive-date=20 September 2011 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/theclinic/mcgowan_ruairi.html|title=The Clinic Character Bio|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|access-date=27 October 2011}} Appearing in 18 episodes as Ruairí McGowan, he followed The Clinic with a BBC production, Desperate Romantics.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5901371/Desperate-Romantics-BBC-Two-TV-Review.html|title=Desperate Romantics (BBC Two): TV Review|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=27 October 2011|location=London|first=James|last=Walton|date=24 July 2009}} He portrayed Dante Gabriel Rossetti in all six episodes of the show, which aired in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lvyq2|title=Desperate Romantics|publisher=BBC|access-date=27 October 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/jul/22/desperate-romantics|title=A date with Desperate Romantics|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 October 2011|location=London|first=Sarah|last=Dempster|date=22 July 2009}}
His film career began with two short films, The Sound of People and Matterhorn, both in 2007. He later played Mal in the thriller feature film Alarm (2008).{{cite web |title=Aidan Turner Filmography |url=http://www.reelz.com/person/381000/aidan-turner/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108175702/http://www.reelz.com/person/381000/aidan-turner/ |archive-date=8 November 2011 |access-date=27 October 2011 |publisher=Reelz.com}}{{cite web |title=featured cast |url=http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie/alarm.4/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203061624/http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie/alarm.4/ |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=27 October 2011 |publisher=MSN}}
Turner played the vampire John Mitchell on the supernatural drama programme Being Human{{cite web|url=http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/blogs/2010/interviews/being-humans-aidan-turner-wont-let-other-vamps-stand-in-his-way/|title='Being Human's Aidan Turner Won't Let Other Vamps Stand in His Way|publisher=XfinityTV.comcast.net|access-date=27 October 2011}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.fandango.com/beinghuman%5Btvseries%5D_v515756/plotsummary |title=Being Human [TV Series] Cast and Crew |publisher=Fandango.com |access-date=27 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222153517/http://www.fandango.com/beinghuman%5Btvseries%5D_v515756/plotsummary |archive-date=22 December 2012 }} during the first three series from 2009 to 2011, for which he received widespread praise.{{cite magazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/04/10/being-human-season-finale-toby-whithouse/|title='Being Human' creator Toby Whithouse on the shocking finale – Exclusive|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=27 October 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s116/being-human/tubetalk/a296145/being-human-week-qa-with-aidan-turner.html|title='Being Human' Week: Q&A with Aidan Turner|work=Digital Spy|date=21 January 2011 |access-date=27 October 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://collider.com/being-human-interview-aidan-turner-russell-tovey-lenora-crichlow-sinead-keenan/42934/|title=Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Sinead Keenan Interview Being Human|newspaper=Collider |date=10 August 2010 |publisher=Collider.com|access-date=27 October 2011}} His role on Being Human brought Turner to the attention of Sir Peter Jackson, who cast him as the dwarf Kíli in The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014).{{cite web|url=http://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/2011/02/07/the-hobbit-starts-filming-next-month/|title=The Hobbit Starts Filming Next Month|date=7 February 2011 |publisher=FilmBuffOnline.com|access-date=27 October 2011}}{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/1499954/Aidan-Turner/filmography |title= Aidan Turner filmography |access-date=10 August 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141214073456/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/1499954/Aidan-Turner/filmography |archive-date= 14 December 2014 |department= Movies & TV Dept. |work= The New York Times |date= 2014 |url-status= dead}} In 2014, he won the Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer for the second film in the series, The Desolation of Smaug.
In 2013, Turner also portrayed shadowhunter-turned-werewolf Luke Garroway in the film adpation of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments fantasy series. He acted opposite of Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Lena Headey, Robert Sheehan, and Jonathan Rhys.{{Cite web |last=Osenlund |first=R. Kurt |date=2013-08-21 |title=Review: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-mortal-instruments-city-of-bones/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}
In the 2015 BBC TV miniseries And Then There Were None, based on the Agatha Christie novel, he plays the cynical mercenary Philip Lombard.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1B4JjV2cmMDd0CMMvBRV2x4/philip-lombard|title=One: And then there were none|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 December 2015}}
Turner performed the title role of Ross Poldark in the 2015 revival of the BBC series.{{cite news| url= http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/brushing-up-for-poldarks-return-irish-actor-aidan-turner-gets-his-tan-topped-up-by-an-assistant/|work=evoke.ie | title= Brushing up for Poldark's return: Irish actor Aidan Turner gets his tan topped up by an assistant| date=6 March 2015}}{{cite news | url= http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/aidan-turner-abs-workout/ | work= evoke.ie | title= It took a lot of work: Aidan's Poldark co-star reveals how he got those abs | date= 21 June 2015 | access-date= 24 June 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150626191917/http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/aidan-turner-abs-workout | archive-date= 26 June 2015 | url-status= dead }} At the National Television Awards ceremony in 2016, Turner was presented with the "Impact Award" for his performance in Poldark.{{cite web |title=VIDEO & PICS: 'Poldark' star Aidan Turner happy but baffled by Impact Award win at NTAs |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/video-pics-poldark-star-aidan-turner-happy-but-baffled-by-impact-award-win-at-ntas-377534.html |website=Irish Examiner |access-date=4 June 2021 |language=en |date=2016-01-21}}
In 2021, Turner led the Italian series Leonardo, portraying the titular artist.{{Cite news |last=McIver |first=Brian |date=15 April 2021 |title='Leonardo': Poldark's Aidan Turner takes on Da Vinci in Amazon's new period drama |url=https://www.aol.com/news/poldark-aidan-turner-leonardo-amazon-133613748.html#! |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=AOL}} He also had a role in the ITV police procedural The Suspect as Dr Joseph O'Loughlin.
Turner took on the role of Glenn Lapthorne, a professional tennis coach accused of sexually abusing his former underage protege (portrayed by Ella Lily Hyland), in the 2023 British drama Fifteen-Love.{{Cite web |last=Metz |first=Nina |date=2024-08-21 |title='Fifteen-Love' review: A he said-she said thriller set in the world of professional tennis |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/08/21/fifteen-love-review-a-he-said-she-said-thriller-set-in-the-world-of-professional-tennis/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |date=2023-07-21 |title=Fifteen-Love review – the acting in this impeccably tense drama is absolutely mesmerising |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jul/21/fifteen-love-review-the-acting-in-this-impeccably-tense-drama-is-absolutely-mesmerising |access-date=2024-12-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
In 2024, Turner had the leading role of Declan O'Hara in Disney+'s Rivals, an adaption of Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles. He starred alongside David Tennant, Victoria Smurfit, Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, Nafessa Williams, Katherine Parkinson, and Danny Dyer.{{Cite web |last=Grebenyuk |first=Yana |date=2024-12-02 |title=Rivals' Aidan Turner Teases Season 2: Declan, Cameron's Future, More |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/rivals-aidan-turner-teases-season-2-declan-camerons-future-more/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Us Weekly |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Yossman |first=K. J. |date=2024-12-04 |title='Rivals' Renewed for Season 2 at Disney+ and Hulu |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/rivals-jilly-cooper-renewed-season-2-disney-hulu-1236234630/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
Personal life
In 2017, Turner met actress Caitlin FitzGerald. He also bought an 18th-century house in East London that year.{{Cite web|url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/poldarks-tv-show-aidan-turner-talks-stage-screen-and-ross-10954473/|title=Pole Position: 'Poldark's' Aidan Turner on Stage, Screen — and Ross|website=WWD|first=Samantha|last=Conti|date=1 August 2017|accessdate=6 June 2023}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/aidan-turner-west-end-lemons-jenna-coleman-poldark-b1056470.html|title=Aidan Turner on his new West End show Lemons Lemons Lemons... and returning to Poldark (or not)|journal=Evening Standard|first=Nick|last=Curtis|date=8 February 2023|accessdate=6 June 2023}} The couple married in August 2020;{{Cite web |date=2022-09-07 |title=The Suspect's Aidan Turner reveals details on intimate Italian wedding |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20220907150345/the-suspect-aidan-turner-reveals-details-intimate-italian-wedding/ |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=HELLO! |language=en}} they have a child together, born in January 2022.{{Cite web |title=Family man Aidan Turner on focusing on the most important things |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/family-man-aidan-turner-on-focusing-on-the-most-important-things-41909783.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=independent |date=13 August 2022 |language=en}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;" | {{dagger|alt=Projects that have not yet been released}} |Denotes projects that have not yet been released |
=Film=
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
| 2007
| Bedoli | Episode: "In Cold Blood" |
| 2008–09
| Ruairí McGowan | Main role, 18 episodes |
| 2009
| Main role, 6 episodes |
| 2009–11
| Main role, 22 episodes |
| 2010
| Resonance | TT | Pilot |
| 2011
| Hattie | John Schofield | TV movie |
| 2015
| Philip Lombard | TV mini series |
| 2015–2019
| Poldark | Ross Poldark | rowspan="2" | Lead role |
| 2021
| Leonardo |
| 2022
| Dr. Joseph O'Loughlin |
| 2023
| Glenn Lapthorne |
| 2024
| Rivals |Declan O'Hara |
=Theatre=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title{{cite web|url=http://aidan-turner.com/career/theatre/ |title=Theatre |work=Aidan-turner.com |access-date=22 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224134825/http://aidan-turner.com/career/theatre/ |archive-date=24 December 2014 }} ! Role ! Theatre ! Location |
| rowspan="5" | 2005
| Corp. Stoddard | London, United Kingdom |
| Suddenly Last Summer
| | Dublin, Ireland |
| A Cry from Heaven
| Ardan | Dublin, Ireland |
| Yokohama Delegation
| Hercules | Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Titus Andronicus
| Demetrius | Project Arts Theatre | Dublin, Ireland |
| 2006
| The Crock of Gold | Pan | Olympia Theatre | Dublin, Ireland |
| 2006–2007
| Drive-by | | Cork Mid-Summer Festival | Cork, Ireland |
| rowspan="2" | 2007
| La Marea | | Bedrock Theatre Co/DTF | Dublin, Ireland |
| Cyrano
| Christian | Dublin, Ireland |
| 2008
| Paris | Dublin, Ireland |
| 2018
| Padraic | London, England |
| 2023
| Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons | Oliver | London, England |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2011
| rowspan="2" | SFX Awards | Best Sci-Fi or Fantasy Actor | rowspan="2" | Being Human | {{nom}} |{{cite web |url=http://www.thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com/article-archives/the-mystery-spot/16104-the-wfb-gazette-results-of-sfx-awards-2011?showall=&start=1 |title=The WFB Gazette – Results of SFX Awards 2011 |work=Thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com|access-date=5 April 2014}}SFX Magazin (2011): WINNER! Best Sci-Fi Actor. Edition: April 2011. S.94 |
| Sexiest Male
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="3" | 2012
| Online Film & Television Association | Best Original Song ({{small|Shared with cast}}) | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | {{Nom}} | |
| rowspan="3" | SFX Awards
| Best Sci-Fi Actor | rowspan="2" | Being Human | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" | Sexiest Male
| {{nom}} |
| 2013
| rowspan="3" | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | {{nom}} | |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Best Male Newcomer | {{Won}} |
| CinEuphoria Awards
|Best Ensemble |{{Nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| Radio Times Champion | Drama Champion | rowspan="2" | Poldark | {{Won}} |
| TV Choice Awards
| Best Actor | {{Nom}} | |
| rowspan="8" | 2016
| rowspan="2" | Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Breakthrough Award | rowspan="2" | Poldark / | {{Won}} |
| Best Actor
|{{Nominated}} |
| GQ Men of the Year
| Best TV Actor | rowspan="10" | Poldark | {{Won}} |
| Irish Film and Television Awards
| Best Actor in Lead Role | {{Nom}} |{{Cite web |title=Irish Film & Television Academy {{!}} Irish Film & Television Awards |url=https://ifta.ie/awards/nominees_2016/actorleadtv.html |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Irish Film & Television Academy}} |
| Monte-Carlo Television Festival
| Outstanding Actor in a TV Series-Drama | {{Nom}} |
| rowspan="2" | National Television Awards
| Impact Award | {{Won}} |
| Drama Performance
| {{Nom}} |
| Radio Times Champion
| Drama Champion | {{Won}} |
| rowspan="3" | 2017
| Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Actor in Lead Role | {{Nom}} |
| TV Times Awards
|Favourite Actor |{{Nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" |TV Choice Awards
| rowspan="2" |Best Actor |{{Nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|{{Nominated}} |
| Stage Debut Awards
| Joe Allen Best West End Debut Award | {{Won}} |
| 2019
|TV Choice Awards |Best Actor |Poldark |{{Nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" |2023
|Irish Film and Television Awards |Best Actor inn a Lead Role - Drama |{{Nominated}} |
| Sichuan TV Festival
|Best Actor in a Leading Role for a Television Series |{{Nominated}} |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Aidan Turner}}
- {{IMDb name|2636108}}
{{Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Aidan}}
Category:21st-century Irish male actors
Category:Irish expatriates in England
Category:Irish male film actors
Category:Irish male television actors