Arthur Darvill

Thomas Arthur Darvill (born 17 June 1982) is an English actor, composer and musician.^[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, 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 Curly in the West End revival of Oklahoma!, for which he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Early life

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

Early work

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

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.^[22]

In 2022, Darvill played the lead male role of Curly McLain in the musical Oklahoma! at the Young Vic.^[23] In 2023, he continued the role in the West End production.^[24]

Darvill will portray the Beatles' press officer Derek Taylor in The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, an upcoming film series of biopics directed by Sam Mendes.^[25]

Music and audio work

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.^[26][27] 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.^[28]

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[29] They took some time to record in a studio in December of that year.^[30]

In 2020, Darvill appeared on the concept album for Vikki Stone and Katie Mulgrew's musical #ZoologicalSociety.^[31][32] Despite the concert being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album featuring Darvill was released digitally on 27 March 2020.^{[citation needed]}

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".^[33]

Personal life

Darvill plays the guitar and piano, and formed an indie band called Edmund in his teenage years. The band 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.^[34]

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.^[35] Darvill is non-religious.^[36]

In 2015, Darvill married Inès De Clercq.^[37] They do not have any children.^{[citation needed]}

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Video games

Audio

Radio

References

1. ^ "Two Old Bromsgrovians chosen for BBC Adaptation". Bromsgrovian News Review. Spring 2010. p. 17. Archived from the original 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
3. ^ Curtis, Nick (27 May 2011). "Is this the end for Rory?". Evening Standard. Archived 30 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine. 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. ^ "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
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 2021-12-20 at the Wayback Machine. – 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. 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
22. ^ "Photo Flash: First Look at Anne Marie-Duff and Arthur Darvill in SWEET CHARITY at the Donmar Warehouse". Retrieved 20 April 2026.
23. ^ Thomas, Sophie (17 March 2022). "Arthur Darvill to star in 'Oklahoma!' at Young Vic". LondonTheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
24. ^ Thomas, Kevin (16 January 2023). "Full casting announced for Oklahoma!". London Theatre Direct. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
25. ^ Seth, Radhika (2025-11-20). "Comparing The Cast Of The Beatles Biopic To Their Real-Life Counterparts". British Vogue. Retrieved 2026-01-26.
26. ^ Been So Long. Young Vic. Retrieved on 4 February 2010.
27. ^ Marlowe, Sam (19 June 2009). "Been So Long". The Times (Times Newspapers): p. 16.
28. ^ "What Rory Did Next — Arthur Darvill Is Sam The Penguin". Penguin. Bleeding Cool. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
29. ^ BWW News Desk. "Declan Bennett and Arthur Darvill to Appear at St Pancras Old Church". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
30. ^ PAPERLANDS (2018-12-02). "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 2019-04-26.
31. ^ RattyBurvil (27 March 2020). "Hey Twitter peeps. How are you all?". Retrieved 11 April 2020. I play a sexually challenged panda. Of course.
32. ^ Alex Wood (13 March 2020). "#ZoologicalSociety musical album and concert to star Sharon D Clarke, Arthur Darvill and more.". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
33. ^ "Rory Williams is The Lone Centurion! - News - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com
34. ^ Susanna Lazarus. "Arthur Darvill: I will definitely work with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan again". RadioTimes
35. ^ 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.
36. ^ "Darvill proves it's Who you know". Belfast Telegraph. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
37. ^ "Who is Arthur Darvill's wife Ines De clercq? Get To Know Her". Hollywood Mask. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
38. ^ "Comic-Con 2017: Rip Hunter, Captain Cold and Damien Darhk Returning to Legends of Tomorrow". IGN. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
39. ^ Agard, Chancellor (October 13, 2021). "'Legends of Tomorrow' brings back 7 heroes in 100th episode photos". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
40. ^ "Stage2 Youth Theatre &No. 124; 1996". Stage2.org. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
41. ^ "Buy tickets for Musical: Once - Ended on Sun Dec 10, 2023 | SmartShanghai"
42. ^ "Eliza: A Robot Story". Crowd Network. Retrieved 2024-02-21.

External links

• Arthur Darvill at IMDb
• Arthur Darvill RADA profile – includes list of plays while in training
• Arthur Darvill on Twitter
• Arthur Darvill on Instagram