Arthur Darvill

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.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23954395-is-this-the-end-for-rory.do |title=Is this the end for Rory? |last=Curtis |first=Nick |date=27 May 2011 |access-date=28 May 2011 |work=Evening Standard}} Darvill attended Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire from 1993 to 2000.

Darvill joined Stage2 Youth Theatre Company at the age of 10. 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/feature/a798247/citv-presenters-arthur-darvill-pat-sharp-neil-buchanan-where-are-they-now/ |title=What happened to the CITV presenters, from Pat Sharp to Arthur Darvill? |last=Wightman |first=Catriona |date=20 June 2016 |website=Digital Spy |access-date=20 June 2016}} He left in 2001, founded his own theatre company (called Fuego's Men), and performed in the Midlands.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}} 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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13687016 |title=Arthur Darvill goes from Doctor Who to Doctor Faustus |date=10 June 2011 |publisher=BBC}}

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.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. Darvill appeared in Terre Haute{{'}}s transfer to Trafalgar Studios in 2007.Spencer, Charles (26 May 2007). "Must See Theatre". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group): p. 18. His performance gained him a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2007 Evening Standard Theatre Awards.Jury, Louise (31 October 2007). "Too much talent on London stage for a shortlist, say judges". Evening Standard (Associated Newspapers): p. 1.

Darvill played Rob in the 2007 monologue Stacy, in a performance The Times described as "compelling".Marlowe, Sam (12 February 2007). "Stacy". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 21. 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).Slim, John (18 January 2008). "Youth theatre celebrates its 20th birthday". Birmingham Mail: p. 55.

File:Karen Gillan & Arthur Darvill (7606545588).jpg 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.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/littledorrit/characterandcast/edwarddorrit.shtml Edward Dorrit]. BBC Online. Retrieved on 4 February 2010. 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;{{Cite web |url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/15/doctor-who-series-7-rory-will-be-back/ |title=Doctor Who Series 7: Rory Will be Back | SFX |access-date=28 September 2011 |archive-date=4 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004144209/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/08/15/doctor-who-series-7-rory-will-be-back/ |url-status=dead }} before he and his co-star Karen Gillan (on-screen wife Amy Pond) left in the fifth episode.{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a356259/doctor-who-karen-gillan-arthur-darvill-to-leave-next-series.html |title=Gillan and Darvill to leave next series|website=Digitalspy.co.uk|date=15 December 2011}}

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, 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.{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/9573928/Arthur-Darvill-interview-Im-done-with-Doctor-Who.html |title=Arthur Darvill interview: 'I'm done with Doctor Who' |last=Bowie-Sell |first=Daisy |date=28 September 2012 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/05-2013/broadways-once-celebrates-500th-performance-and-we_65259.html |title=Broadway's Once Celebrates 500th Performance and Welcomes Joanna Christie and Dr. Who's Arthur Darvill |last=David Gordon |date=30 May 2013 |website=TheaterMania.com}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kDpD-vY2sg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/8kDpD-vY2sg |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=Tony Awards 2013 – Once with Arthur Darvill and Johanna Christie |date=10 June 2013 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/musicals/tony-awards-2013-live-blog-20130610-2nyyf.html#post_live_44338 |title=Tony Awards 2013 live blog |date=10 June 2013 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Darvill continued the role in the West End production from 17 March 2014 until 10 May 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/latest-news/article/item221002/arthur-darvill-to-lead-london-once/ |title=Arthur Darvill to lead London Once |last=Amer |first=Matthew |date=21 February 2014 |publisher=Official London Theatre |access-date=19 April 2014}}

In March 2015, Darvill was cast as the time-traveller Rip Hunter in the series Legends of Tomorrow.{{Cite news |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cws-flash-arrow-spinoff-casts-785372 |title=CW's 'Flash'/'Arrow' Spinoff Casts Time Traveler With 'Doctor Who' Alum |date=30 March 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}} He was written out of the show in 2018, by the end of the third season.{{Cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/legends-tomorrow-season-4-rip-hunter-arthur-darvill/ |title=Legends of Tomorrow Season 4: Rip Hunter Won't Return |date=2018-07-23 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US |access-date=2019-04-26}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Sophie |title=Arthur Darvill to star in 'Oklahoma!' at Young Vic |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/arthur-darvill-to-star-in-oklahoma-at-young-vic |website=LondonTheatre.co.uk |date=17 March 2022 |access-date=8 February 2023}} In 2023, he continued the role in the West End production.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Kevin |title=Full casting announced for Oklahoma! |url=https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/full-casting-announced-for-oklahoma |website=London Theatre Direct |date=16 January 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023}}

Darvill is also a musician and a composer; he has written songs and music for the Bush Theatre,{{citation needed|date=May 2011}} and composed the score for Che Walker's 2008 play The Frontline at Shakespeare's Globe. 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.[http://www.youngvic.org/whats-on?action=details&id=3051 Been So Long]. Young Vic. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.Marlowe, Sam (19 June 2009). "Been So Long". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 16. In 2010, Darvill helped promote the solo album of Fyfe Dangerfield, playing with him on sessions for Graham Norton's show and on Xfm.

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/02/rory-did-next-arthur-darvill-sam-penguin/ |title=What Rory Did Next — Arthur Darvill Is Sam The Penguin |website=Penguin |publisher=Bleeding Cool |access-date=2 February 2012|date=2 February 2012 }}

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 [https://twitter.com/paperlandsmusic Paperlands] with Ines De Clercq. The collective performed at St Pancras Old Church on 22 November 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Declan-Bennett-and-Arthur-Darvill-to-Appear-at-St-Pancras-Old-Church-20181016 |title=Declan Bennett and Arthur Darvill to Appear at St Pancras Old Church |author=BWW News Desk |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en |access-date=2019-04-26}} They took some time to record in a studio in December of that year.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/paperlandsmusic/status/1069347347937837056 |title=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. |last=PAPERLANDS |date=2018-12-02 |website=@paperlandsmusic |language=en |access-date=2019-04-26}}

In 2020, Darvill appeared on the concept album for Vikki Stone and Katie Mulgrew's musical #ZoologicalSociety.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/RattyBurvil/status/1243495787025309697 |title=Hey Twitter peeps. How are you all? |last=RattyBurvil |date=27 March 2020 |quote=I play a sexually challenged panda. Of course.|access-date=11 April 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/northampton-theatre/news/zoological-society-musical-album_51174.html|title=#ZoologicalSociety musical album and concert to star Sharon D Clarke, Arthur Darvill and more.|last=Alex Wood |date=13 March 2020 |publisher=WhatsOnStage |access-date=11 April 2020}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/brand-new-doctor-who-spin-off|title=Rory Williams is The Lone Centurion! - News - Big Finish|website=www.bigfinish.com}}

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. He enjoys cooking and attending the theatre and concerts. He also collects taxidermy. He is close friends with his Doctor Who former co-stars Karen Gillan and Matt Smith.{{Cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-10-05/arthur-darvill-i-will-definitely-work-with-matt-smith-and-karen-gillan-again |title=Arthur Darvill: I will definitely work with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan again |last=Susanna Lazarus |website=RadioTimes}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/benedict-cumberbatch-tom-hiddleston-jo-3504331 |title=Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Jo Brand and more celebrities design and sign cards for UK's first children's charity |last=Rebecca Pocklington |date=6 May 2014 |publisher=Mirror Online |access-date=7 May 2014}} Darvill is non-religious.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/darvill-proves-its-who-you-know/29103246.html|work=Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=8 August 2024|date=1 March 2013|title=Darvill proves it's Who you know}}

In 2015, Darvill married Inès De Clercq.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-12 |title=Who is Arthur Darvill's wife Ines De clercq? Get To Know Her |url=https://hollywoodmask.com/p/arthur-darvill-wife.html |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=Hollywood Mask}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons category|Arthur Darvill}}

• {{IMDb name|2965271|Arthur Darvill}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080916075235/http://ashbee.net/rada/grad06/dar.html Arthur Darvill RADA profile] – includes list of plays while in training
• {{Twitter|RattyBurvil}}
• {{Instagram|RattyBurvil}}

{{OlivierAward MusicalActor}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darvill, Arthur}}

Category:1982 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century English male actors

Category:21st-century English male actors

Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Category:English male composers

Category:English male film actors

Category:English male stage actors

Category:English male television actors

Category:English male voice actors

Category:English television presenters

Category:Laurence Olivier Award winners

Category:Male actors from Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:People educated at Bromsgrove School