Thomas Arthur Darvill, known professionally as Arthur Darvill, is an
English actor and musician. He is perhaps most recognised as Rory
Williams, one of the Eleventh Doctor's companions in the television series
Doctor Who, and as Rev. Paul Coates in Broadchurch. In 2013-2014 he appeared in
the lead role in the theatre musical Once in the West End and on Broadway. He
will appear as Rip Hunter in DC's Legends of Tomorrow, which will air in
early 2016. 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. Darvill attended Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire from
1993 to 2000. Career
= Early work= Darvill joined Stage2 Youth Theatre
Company at the age of 10. He was a member from 1991 to 2000 and landed a
job on CITV in 2000, presenting the continuity links between the shows. He
left in 2001, founded his own theatre company, 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.
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. Darvill
appeared in Terra Haute‍ '​s transfer to Trafalgar Studios in 2007. His
performance gained him a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2007 Evening Standard
Theatre Awards. Darvill played Rob in the 2007 monologue
Stacy, in a performance The Times described as "compelling". Later that
year, he appeared in the Vaudeville Theatre's production of Swimming with
Sharks with Christian Slater, Helen Baxendale and Matt Smith. 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.
= 2010–2012: Doctor Who= Darvill began playing Rory Williams,
companion to the Eleventh Doctor, in the fifth series of the BBC's science
fiction show Doctor Who. He became a regular character in the sixth series,
and confirmed that he would be appearing in the seventh series; before he and his
co-star Karen Gillan left in the fifth episode.
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. 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.
= 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. 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. 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.
He gave an interview and appeared on the front cover of the October 2012 issue of
Gay Times. 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
Darvill continued the role in the West End production from 17 March 2014 until
10 May 2014. In March 2015, it was announced that
Darvill had been cast as the first time-traveller Rip Hunter in the
upcoming series DC's Legends of Tomorrow which is the spin-off of Arrow and The
Flash. 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. He enjoys cookery and attending the theatre
and music concerts. He collects taxidermy. He is close friends with his
Doctor Who co-stars Karen Gillan and Matt Smith. He supports Premier League
football team Aston Villa. 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.
Filmography = Television=
= Film= = Theatre=
= Video Games= References
External links Arthur Darvill at the Internet Movie
Database Arthur Darvill RADA profile – includes
list of plays while in training