Richard Madden

Richard Madden, born on 18 June 1986, is a Scottish actor with a career that started early. He secured his first role at the age of 11 and made his screen acting debut in 2000. As a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he ventured into stage performances.


In 2007, Madden toured with Shakespeare's Globe company as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, a role he reprised in the West End in 2016. However, he gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Robb Stark in the fantasy drama series Game of Thrones from 2011 to 2013.
Following his success on Game of Thrones, Madden played Prince Kit in the romantic fantasy film Cinderella (2015) and Italian banker Cosimo de' Medici in the first season of the historical fiction series Medici (2016). In 2018, he earned acclaim for his role as a police officer in the thriller series Bodyguard, winning a Golden Globe Award.


In 2019, Madden was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time. He took on supporting roles in the biopic Rocketman, portraying music manager John Reid, and in the war film 1917 as a soldier. Subsequently, he starred as Ikaris in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Eternals (2021) and as a spy in the action thriller series Citadel (2023–present).


Richard Madden was born on 18 June 1986 in Elderslie, located just outside the city of Glasgow. He grew up with his two sisters in a family where his mother worked as a primary school teacher, and his father was a firefighter. At the age of 11, Madden, who initially struggled with shyness and body insecurities, joined PACE Youth Theatre to overcome his inhibitions. Simultaneously, he landed his first role as young Andy in the film adaptation of Iain Banks' Complicity, released in 2000.


During his time at Castlehead High School, Madden experienced bullying, partly attributed to his role in Complicity. Despite these challenges, he pursued acting and went on to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in 2007. While at the conservatoire, he worked with The Arches and the Glasgow Repertory Company, gaining positive reviews for his performance in Franz Xaver Kroetz's play Tom Fool at the Citizens Theatre.


In his final year at the conservatoire, Madden was cast as Romeo in the play Romeo and Juliet at the modern Globe Theatre in London. This production garnered attention, and Madden's portrayal of Romeo was praised for its "gravelly Glaswegian" and "almost childlike" qualities. In the same year, he played Callum McGregor in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Malorie Blackman's Noughts & Crosses and starred as Mark McNulty in the National Theatre of Scotland's production of Be Near Me.


Madden continued to make strides in his career, taking on various roles in both television and film, including the lead role of Dean McKenzie in the 2009 BBC comedy-drama series Hope Springs, and roles in the 2010 films Chatroom and Worried About the Boy. His journey from a shy child to a celebrated actor showcases his determination and talent in the world of performing arts.


Alongside Game of Thrones, Madden appeared in the Channel 4 comedy-drama series Sirens and the BBC drama series Birdsong. He obtained his Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card for the 2014 miniseries Klondike, in which he played the real-life adventurer Bill Haskell involved in the Klondike Gold Rush.


Madden continued to diversify his roles, portraying Prince Kit in the romantic fantasy film Cinderella, released in March 2015, which received critical and commercial success. In 2016, he starred as Romeo in a West End production of Romeo and Juliet, reuniting with his Cinderella co-star Lily James and director Kenneth Branagh.


In 2018, Madden earned widespread acclaim for his role as Sergeant David Budd in the BBC thriller series Bodyguard, portraying a war veteran and police officer dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. His performance garnered the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama, and the series became the most-watched UK television drama episode up to that point. Netflix released Bodyguard worldwide in October 2018, further expanding Madden's global recognition.


In 2019, Richard Madden continued to showcase his versatility as an actor. He portrayed music manager John Reid in the Elton John biopic Rocketman, released in May. Madden's performance in the film earned positive reviews, contributing to the movie's success at the box office. Later in the year, he appeared as a World War I soldier in Sam Mendes' war film 1917, which was released in December. The film received critical acclaim and was a commercial hit.


From December 2020 to January 2021, Madden ventured into the realm of podcasting, starring in the science fiction podcast series From Now. In this project, he voiced a survivor of a spaceship that mysteriously returns 35 years after vanishing.


Madden took on the role of Ikaris in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Eternals, directed by Chloé Zhao. The film, released in 2021, received mixed responses from critics and audiences.

Richard Madden, born on June 18, 1986, in Scotland, is a talented actor with a successful career. Some key points in his career include:

1. Game of Thrones (2011–2013): Madden gained widespread recognition for his role as Robb Stark in the critically acclaimed television series "Game of Thrones."
2. Cinderella (2015): He played Prince Kit in Disney's live-action adaptation of "Cinderella," showcasing his versatility beyond television.
3. Bodyguard (2018): Madden starred in the British television series "Bodyguard," earning him critical acclaim and awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama.
4. Rocketman (2019): Madden portrayed the music manager and love interest John Reid in the Elton John biopic "Rocketman."
5. Eternals (2021): Madden joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Ikaris in the superhero film "Eternals."

Richard Madden's career is marked by a mix of television, film, and stage performances, highlighting his ability to take on diverse and compelling roles.

References

1.  "Famous birthdays for June 18: Lou Brock, Carol Kane". United Press International. 18 June 2019. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
2. ^ Rutherford, Nichola (29 September 2018). "The Sunday night drama plugging the gap left by Bodyguard". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
3. ^ Pavia, Lucy (5 September 2018). "Bodyguard's Richard Madden on shyness, Game of Thrones and his 'relentless' new show". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
4. ^ Hennemuth, Britt (28 February 2019). "Rowan Blanchard, Dree Hemingway, Jeremy O. Harris, and Seven More Breakout Stars Stand Out in Spring Style". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
5. a b c d Sawyer, Miranda (4 May 2019). "Richard Madden: 'I don't like the look of me in the mirror'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
6. ^ Nathanson, Hannah (1 April 2011). "Game of Thrones is good news for Brit stars". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
7. ^ Armstrong, Gary (8 January 2019). "PACE congratulates golden star Richard Madden". The Daily Record. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
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9. a b c McGurk, Stuart (30 November 2018). "Richard Madden on Bond, bullying and Bodyguard. The GQ interview". GQ. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.