Colin Morgan

At 38 years old, Colin Morgan has this physical status:

Colin Morgan (born 1 January 1986) is an actor from Northern Ireland best known for portraying the title character in the BBC fantasy series Merlin. Morgan made his London debut in 2007 as the title character in DBC Pierre's Vernon God Little's Vernon God Little.

He went on to appear in Pedro Almodóvar's Todo Madre ("All About My Mother") in 2007, Thomas Babe's A Prayer for My Daughter in 2008, Pedro Miguel Rozo's Our Private Life in 2011, and Jez Butterworth's Mojo in 2013. Morgan was named as a "Star of Tomorrow" by Screen International in July 2008.

In 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2011, Morgan was nominated for Outstanding Actor (Drama) in the Monte Carlo TV Festival Awards, as well as Best Actor in Drama Performance: Male in the National Television Awards in 2013.

Early life and education

Morgan was born in Armagh, Northern Ireland, the son of Bernard, a painter and decorator, and Bernadette, a nurse. He is the younger of two brothers; they were both raised Roman Catholic.

Morgan began training at Integrated College Dungannon in 1997. Morgan appeared in many college plays, including Surgical Sensations at St. Senapods and Bad Day at Black Frog Creek.

In 2004, Morgan was given a National Diploma in Performing Arts from the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education. In 2007, he graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He was discovered by theatre director Rufus Norris in the last year of his undergraduate degree and went on to make his professional London West End theatre debut as Vernon God Little's title character. Morgan's result was well-received and used as an assessment for his final grade.

Morgan was given an Award of Distinction by the Belfast Metropolitan College in November 2010 for his contribution to the Arts.

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Career

Vernon God Little mounted at the Young Vic in 2007, making his professional debut in London. Morgan "captures all the ambiguity, confusion, and gallows humour of the adolescent hero who finds himself in no end of danger," the Telegraph said. In Pedro Almodóvar's Todo so madre (All About My Mother), Morgan returned to play Esteban, an aspiring teenage writer, opposite Diana Rigg. Morgan was nominated for the 2007 London Newcomer of the Year in both of these categories by the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards.

Morgan appeared in Thomas Babe's A Prayer for My Daughter's Young Vic production in 2008. Morgan brought Jimmy to life by "twisting, twitching moodswings, and a blend of half-druggy punk and half-angelic visionary," the Independent said. Variety also stands out for his "impressive level of twitchy zeal."

Carlos, a "bipolar compulsive fantasist" homosexual who suspects he was molested by his father as a child, received raves in 2011. In Step in Time at The Old Vic 24 Hour Musicals Celebrity Gala in aid of The Old Vic Trust, Morgan played Gary, a flamboyant dance instructor struggling to capture the heart of one of his students.

In the 2013 Globe Theatre performance of The Tempest, Roger Allam's Prost, he appeared in the 2013 Globe Theatre production of The Tempest, which was later broadcast to cinemas as part of Globe On Screen, with a subsequent DVD release in July 2014. Morgan sought to imbue his character of Ariel with "ethereal presence" and "acrobatic precision" in this role. "I can't remember a better Ariel," the Washington Post critic said, and that Morgan's appearance was "mysterious, in a way I've never really experienced before — also very vulnerable."

Morgan appeared in Jez Butterworth's dark comedy Mojo from 2013 to 2014, making his West End debut as Skinny Luke in Jez Butterworth's grim comedy Mojo at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Morgan's results were described as "an accomplished study in human vulnerability... played with precision and pathos," according to Radio Times.

Morgan returned to London in 2017 as the character in Branden Jacobs-Jității's Gloria, a comedic drama.

Morgan made his National Theatre debut in May 2018, starring Ian Rickson in Brian Friel's Translations, Brian Friel's first production.

In early 2020, he appeared opposite Roger Allam in Caryl Churchill's A Number.

Morgan first appeared on television in 2007 as the embarrassed gay son of John Leary in sketches on The Catherine Tate Show's "Christmas Special." In the fan-favourite Doctor Who episode "Midnight" in 2008, he portrayed troubled teenager Jethro Cane opposite David Tennant.

Morgan is best known for his role in BBC TV series Merlin from 2008 to 2012; Merlin, Arthur's servant and Gaius' ward, must magically develop his magical skills under the watchful gaze of Kings Uther and Arthur, both of whom despise the art.

The production was loosely based on Merlin's Arthurian myths and his friendship with King Arthur. Morgan was nominated for and received multiple acting awards, including the Caron Keating Outstanding Newcomer Award at the start of the series) and the Best Actor in Drama Performance: Male in the 2013 National Television Awards (at the end of the series).

According to co-creator and executive producer Johnny Capps, Merlin's role was difficult to portray. In a 2011 interview, Capps said, "We needed to find an actor with a broad playing range, someone with the brightness of touch who would be able to deal with both action and magic." "We had an instinct about Colin." We weren't sure about him at first, but then watched him again and again, saying, "He's perfect for the part." Morgan mistakenly read Prince Arthur's script before deciding to audition for the role. He only had five minutes before his audition to read over the correct portion of the script.

Morgan reappeared on television in an episode of the 1950s Irish crime drama Quirke, based on John Banville's books, after spending 2013 in back-to-back stage productions.

In the second season of The Fall, he appeared as a detective sergeant alongside Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. Morgan was invited to play the role, speaking with writer Allan Cubitt and lead actress Gillian Anderson in London to discuss his involvement. Morgan read up on police tactics and talked to the organization's police officer to prepare for his role. He also conducted an impromptu interview with two police officers he saw on the streets of London.

Morgan began his career in June 2015 as Leo Elster, a British skipper whose role was based on the Swedish film Real Humans. Humans was Channel 4's most rated drama since The Camomile Lawn (1992). Morgan's performance has become more exciting as the series progressed, according to reviewer Paul Simpson.

In the summer of 2016, Morgan co-star Charlotte Spencer in the BBC One Victorian era ghost hunter series The Living and the Dead, as central character Nathan Appleby.

Later this year, he reprised his roles in The Fall's Series 3 and Series 2 of Humans.

In the 2010 independent Irish film Parked, Morgan played a homeless drug addict opposite Colm Meaney, for which he spent several weeks in Dublin researching heroin use and homelessness. Multiple critics and producer Darragh Byrne praised Morgan's performance.

Morgan appeared in Island, an independent interpretation of Jane Rogers' book Island, in 2011.

In a BBC Films and Films feature adaptation of Vera Brittain's World War I memoir Testament of Youth, Morgan later portrayed WWI British soldier Victor Richardson. Morgan read Brittain's books as well as personal letters exchanged between Vera, Victor, and their families to prepare for the soldier's role. He also contacted a Blind Veterans Charity in Brighton, which allowed him to interview blind people. "Shining brilliantly and lingering in the mind long after," the British Film Institute's brochure said, "three rising British stars – Colin Morgan, Taron Egerton, and Kit Harington – are among three rising British stars whose careers have landed, shining brightly and lingering long in the imagination."

Morgan appeared in the autumn of 2015 as Frankie Shea, brother-in-law and personal chauffeur of Tom Hardy's Reggie Kray, based on John Pearson's book The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins.

Morgan filmed The Laughing King, a short film produced by White No Sugar TV and Funky Films in Blackpool, from 9 to 10, May 2015, to raise concerns regarding depression, mental illness, and male suicide. He portrayed Jake, a young man who arrives in Blackpool, the seaside town of his childhood, determined to end his life. The London Short Film Festival was released on January 12, 2016.

Waiting for You co-starring French actress Fanny Ardant from May to June 2015.

In the Snow White and Huntsman spin-off, Morgan portrayed Duke Blackwood in The Huntsman: Winter's War, in April 2016.

Morgan produced The Happy Prince, an Oscar Wilde biopic shot in Bavaria, Germany, with Rupert Everett and Colin Firth.

Morgan appeared in Benjamin, a film written and directed by Simon Amstell, in the summer of 2017.

Morgan appeared in Kenneth Branagh's Belfast film, based on the director's childhood during The Troubles. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Morgan appeared in BBC Radio Play Cry Babies by Kim Newman on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009, playing Roger. He appeared in Good Omens, written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Collins, directed and adapted by Dirk Maggs, and produced by Heather Larmour in December 2014.

Morgan read Autumn Journal on BBC Radio 3, which was about Louis MacNeice's poetic legacy of life in 1938, the fall of Barcelona, and Britain's plans for an inevitable war.

Morgan performed readings from survivor accounts and testimonials during Titanic's sinking on April 14th, 2012. This was broadcast live on BBC2 from Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

Morgan narrated Big Mountain Productions' Addicts Symphony on Channel 4 on August 27, 2014. In this one-off documentary, composer, guitarist, and recovering alcoholic James McConnel brought together ten classical musicians whose lives had been ruined by heroin use for a spectacular concert.

In 2012's Merlin: The Game, Morgan narrated Merlin's game sequences.

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