Aidan Turner

Last updated

Aidan Turner
Aidan Turner 2013.jpg
Turner in 2013
Born (1983-06-19) 19 June 1983 (age 42)
Clondalkin, Dublin, Ireland
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2020)​
Children1

Aidan Turner (born 19 June 1983) is an Irish actor. He began his career in the RTÉ medical drama The Clinic (2008–2009) and the BBC series Desperate Romantics (2009). He later gained attention for co-starring as one of the main leads in the popular BBC Three series Being Human (2009–2011), and for playing the dwarf Kíli in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014), before starring as Ross Poldark in Poldark (2015–2019).

Contents

Early life and education

Aidan Turner was born at home in Clondalkin, a suburban town of Dublin, [1] on 19 June 1983. [2] [3] The family later moved to Walkinstown. [1]

Turner attended secondary school at St Mac Dara's Community College in Templeogue before leaving to join his older brother at Firhouse Community College, where, he said, he "probably wasn't a great student". [4]

Before becoming an actor, Turner was a successful ballroom dancer, once obtaining third place in the adult section of the Irish National Championships. [1] After finishing secondary school, he briefly worked as an apprentice electrician, alongside his father. After he saw a notice up in Dublin's Gaiety School of Acting, and having become interested in acting while working in a cinema, he applied. [5] [6] [7] He graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2004. [5]

Career

After graduating from drama school, Turner appeared in several theatre productions, including The Plough and the Stars , Romeo and Juliet , and A Cry from Heaven . [5] [8] [9]

Turner (second from left) with his Being Human castmates Lenora Crichlow and Russell Tovey, and creator Toby Whithouse (right) in 2009 Crichlow, Turner, Tovey, Whithouse.jpg
Turner (second from left) with his Being Human castmates Lenora Crichlow and Russell Tovey, and creator Toby Whithouse (right) in 2009

Turner's television acting career began in 2007 with an uncredited appearance on the first episode of The Tudors . [10] In the same year he produced and starred in the film Porcelain, directed by Gavin Cleland, which was shot in a convent in Dublin. However, only a trailer of the movie was released. [11]

Between 2008 and 2009, Turner had a recurring role as Ruairí McGowan in eighteen episodes of The Clinic . [12] [13] He followed The Clinic with the BBC production Desperate Romantics . [10] [14] He portrayed Dante Gabriel Rossetti in all six episodes of the show, which aired in 2009. [10] [15] [16]

Turner's film career began with two short films, The Sound of People and Matterhorn, both in 2007. He later played Mal in the thriller feature film Alarm (2008). [17] [18]

Turner played the vampire John Mitchell for the first three series of the supernatural drama programme Being Human [19] [20] (2009 to 2011), for which he received widespread praise. [21] [22] [23] His role on Being Human brought Turner to the attention of Sir Peter Jackson, who cast him as the dwarf Kíli in The Hobbit Trilogy (2012–2014). [5] [24] [25] In 2014, he won the Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer for the second film in the series, The Desolation of Smaug. [7]

In 2013, Turner portrayed shadowhunter-turned-werewolf Luke Garroway in the film adaptation of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments fantasy series. He acted opposite Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Lena Headey, Robert Sheehan, and Jonathan Rhys. [26]

In the 2015 BBC TV miniseries And Then There Were None , based on the Agatha Christie novel, Turner played the cynical mercenary Philip Lombard. [27] Joining him in the ensemble cast were Maeve Dermody, Miranda Richardson, Toby Stephens, Charles Dance, Anna Maxwell Martin, Noah Taylor, Douglas Booth, Burn Gorman, and Sam Neill. The miniseries was critically-acclaimed, with Maureen Ryan (Variety) and Mike Hale (New York Times) among those applauding Turner's "standout" work. [28] [29]

Turner performed the title role of Ross Poldark in the 2015 revival of the BBC series Poldark. [5] [30] [31] At the National Television Awards in 2016, Turner received the NTA's inaugural Impact Award for his performance. [32]

In 2021, Turner led the Italian series Leonardo, portraying the titular artist. [33] The following year saw him in the ITV police procedural The Suspect , in which he played Dr Joseph O'Loughlin, a psychologist adjusting to his recent diagnosis of early-onset Parkinson's disease. [34]

Turner next played Glenn Lapthorne, a professional tennis coach accused of sexually abusing his former underage protégé (portrayed by Ella Lily Hyland), in the 2023 British television drama Fifteen-Love. [35] [36]

In 2024, Turner played TV journalist Declan O'Hara in the Disney+ series Rivals , an adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles . He starred alongside David Tennant, Victoria Smurfit, Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, Nafessa Williams, Katherine Parkinson, and Danny Dyer. [37] [38] In December 2025, Disney+ confirmed the return of Rivals with a second series to premiere in May 2026. [39]

Personal life

In 2017, Turner met actress Caitlin FitzGerald. He also bought an 18th-century house in East London that year. [40] [41] The couple married in August 2020; [42] they have a child together, born in January 2022. [43] Turner is a longtime snooker enthusiast. [44]

Filmography

Key
†Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Audio

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015 A History of Ideas (BBC Radio 4) Narrator [45] Twelve short animated videos scripted by Nigel Warburton for BBC Radio 4: "David Hume on Miracles"; "Esse est Percipi ('To be is to be perceived')"; "Karl Popper's Falsification"; "Wittgenstein's Beetle in the Box Analogy"; "I love my mum (but not like that)"; "How Two Halves Make a Whole"; "Love? What's in it for me?"; "Sartre: Love is a hazardous, painful struggle"; "John Locke on Toleration"; "Adam Smith on the Invisible Hand"; "Plato's Philosopher Kings"; "Confucian Ancestor Worship"
2021 The Sandman Act II CluracanAudio drama series by Neil Gaiman based on his comic book The Sandman [46]
2022 The Sandman Act III

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007The Sound of PeopleFatherShort film
MatterhornTheodoro
PorcelainKevin [47] Unreleased [48]
2008 Alarm Mal
2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Kíli
2013 The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Luke Garroway
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Kíli
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Kíli
2016 The Secret Scripture Jack Conroy [5]
2017 Loving Vincent Boatman
2018 The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot Young Calvin Barr
2019 Love Is Blind Russell
2023Paso DobleLiam RileyShort film directed by Heida Reed
TBA The Last Planet † Saint Andrew [49] Post-production; retitled to The Way of the Wind [50]
TBAGrendel† Unferth [51] Pre-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 The Tudors BedoliEpisode: "In Cold Blood"
2008–09 The Clinic Ruairí McGowanMain role, 18 episodes
2009 Desperate Romantics Dante Gabriel Rossetti Main role, 6 episodes
2009–11 Being Human John Mitchell Main role, 22 episodes
2010ResonanceTTPilot
2011 Hattie John SchofieldTV film
2015 And Then There Were None Philip LombardMini series
2015–2019 Poldark Ross PoldarkLead role
2021 Leonardo Leonardo da Vinci
2022 The Suspect Dr. Joseph O'LoughlinLead role [52]
2022 Toast of Tinseltown BarneyEpisode: "Death Valley"
2023 Fifteen-Love Glenn LapthorneLead role [53]
2024–present Rivals Declan O'HaraLead role [54]
2025 The Diplomat Callum EllisRecurring role [55]

Theatre

YearTitle [8] [56] RoleTheatreLocation
2005 The Plough and the Stars Corp. Stoddard Barbican Theatre London, United Kingdom
Suddenly Last Summer Dr. Sugar Focus Theatre Dublin, Ireland
A Cry from Heaven Ardan Abbey Theatre Dublin, Ireland
Yokohama Delegation Hercules Kilkenny Arts Festival Kilkenny, Ireland
Titus Andronicus DemetriusProject Arts TheatreDublin, Ireland
2006 The Crock of Gold Pan Olympia Theatre
On tour		Dublin, Ireland
On tour
2006–2007 Drive-By Cork Mid-Summer Festival
Dublin Fringe Festival 2006
Canterbury Arts Festival 2007		Cork, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
Canterbury, United Kingdom
2007La MareaAdamBedrock Theatre Co/DTFDublin, Ireland
Cyrano Christian Project Arts Centre Dublin, Ireland
2008 Romeo and Juliet Paris Abbey Theatre Dublin, Ireland
2018 The Lieutenant of Inishmore Padraic Noël Coward Theatre London, United Kingdom
2023 Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Oliver Harold Pinter Theatre London, United Kingdom
2026 Les Liaisons dangereuses Vicomte de Valmont Royal National Theatre London, United Kingdom

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2011SFX AwardsBest Sci-Fi or Fantasy Actor Being Human Nominated [57] [58]
Sexiest MaleNominated [59]
2012Online Film & Television AssociationBest Original Song

(Shared with cast)

 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Nominated
SFX AwardsBest Sci-Fi ActorBeing HumanNominated [60]
Sexiest MaleNominated [61]
2013 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Nominated
2014 Empire Awards Best Male NewcomerWon [62]
CinEuphoria AwardsBest EnsembleNominated [63]
2015 Radio Times ChampionDrama Champion Poldark Won [64]
TV Choice Awards Best ActorNominated
2016 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards Breakthrough AwardPoldark /

And Then There Were None

Won [65]
Best ActorNominated [66]
GQ Men of the YearBest TV ActorPoldarkWon [67]
Irish Film and Television Awards Best Actor in Lead RoleNominated [68]
Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actor in a TV Series-DramaNominated [69]
National Television Awards Impact AwardWon [70]
Drama PerformanceNominated [71]
Radio Times ChampionDrama ChampionWon [72]
2017Irish Film and Television AwardsBest Actor in Lead RoleNominated [73]
TV Times AwardsFavourite ActorNominated [74]
TV Choice AwardsBest ActorNominated [75]
2018Nominated [76]
Stage Debut AwardsJoe Allen Best West End Debut Award The Lieutenant of Inishmore Won [77]
2019TV Choice AwardsBest ActorPoldarkNominated [78]
2023Irish Film and Television AwardsBest Actor in a Lead Role - Drama The Suspect Nominated [79]
Sichuan TV FestivalBest Actor in a Leading Role for a Television Series Leonardo Nominated [80]
2025Irish Film and Television AwardsBest Actor in a Lead Role - Drama Rivals Nominated [81]
The GossiesBest ActorNominated [82]

References

  1. 1 2 3 McMenamy, Emma (12 September 2016). "Poldark star Aidan Turner's incredible journey from dance sensation to international acting star".
  2. ↑ "Aidan Turner Biography". TV.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  3. ↑ "Aidan Turner Date of Birth". BuddyTV.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  4. ↑ Harrington, Katy (1 September 2016). "Aidan Turner: 'It would be embarrassing if Poldark bombed'".
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tate, Gabriel (2 March 2015). "'Being a sex symbol is a little awkward' – Aidan Turner on his rise to fame, and redefining Poldark". Irish Independent . Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Anna Pukas (16 March 2015). "Aidan Turner reveals his feelings about new show Poldark". Daily Express .
  7. 1 2 Gordon, Bryony (27 November 2015). "Aidan Turner: 'I don't want to play it safe'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Aidan Turner". LisaRichards.ie. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Irish People and Celebrity Central – Aidan Turner". Irishcentral.com. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Ward, Rachel (29 December 2015). "Aidan Turner: his life and work". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "hooting Wraps on 'Porcelain'". 26 April 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "John Mitchell (Aidan Turner)". BBCAmerica.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "The Clinic Character Bio". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  14. ↑ Walton, James (24 July 2009). "Desperate Romantics (BBC Two): TV Review". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Desperate Romantics". BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  16. ↑ Dempster, Sarah (22 July 2009). "A date with Desperate Romantics". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  17. ↑ "Aidan Turner Filmography". Reelz.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "featured cast". MSN. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  19. ↑ "'Being Human's Aidan Turner Won't Let Other Vamps Stand in His Way". XfinityTV.comcast.net. Retrieved 27 October 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  20. ↑ "Being Human [TV Series] Cast and Crew". Fandango.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  21. ↑ "'Being Human' creator Toby Whithouse on the shocking finale – Exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  22. ↑ "'Being Human' Week: Q&A with Aidan Turner". Digital Spy. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  23. ↑ "Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Sinead Keenan Interview Being Human". Collider. Collider.com. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  24. ↑ "The Hobbit Starts Filming Next Month". FilmBuffOnline.com. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  25. ↑ "Aidan Turner filmography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . 2014. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  26. ↑ Osenlund, R. Kurt (21 August 2013). "Review: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  27. ↑ "One: And then there were none". BBC. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  28. ↑ Ryan, Maureen (9 March 2016). "TV Review: 'And Then There Were None'". Variety. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  29. ↑ Hale, Mike (11 March 2016). "Review: 'And Then There Were None,' a Classic Murder Case Revived". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  30. ↑ "Brushing up for Poldark's return: Irish actor Aidan Turner gets his tan topped up by an assistant". evoke.ie. 6 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "It took a lot of work: Aidan's Poldark co-star reveals how he got those abs". evoke.ie. 21 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "VIDEO & PICS: 'Poldark' star Aidan Turner happy but baffled by Impact Award win at NTAs". Irish Examiner. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  33. ↑ McIver, Brian (15 April 2021). "'Leonardo': Poldark's Aidan Turner takes on Da Vinci in Amazon's new period drama". AOL. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  34. ↑ bliss (1 September 2022). "Portrayal of Parkinson's disease on TV | Global Update | Parkinson's Life". Parkinson's Europe. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  35. ↑ Metz, Nina (21 August 2024). "'Fifteen-Love' review: A he said-she said thriller set in the world of professional tennis". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  36. ↑ Mangan, Lucy (21 July 2023). "Fifteen-Love review – the acting in this impeccably tense drama is absolutely mesmerising". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  37. ↑ Grebenyuk, Yana (2 December 2024). "Rivals' Aidan Turner Teases Season 2: Declan, Cameron's Future, More". Us Weekly. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  38. ↑ Yossman, K. J. (4 December 2024). "'Rivals' Renewed for Season 2 at Disney+ and Hulu". Variety. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  39. ↑ "DISNEY+ CONFIRMS THE RETURN OF THE AWARD-WINNING HIT SERIES "RIVALS" FOR ITS SECOND SEASON ON 15 MAY WITH OFFICIAL TEASER TRAILER". UK Press. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  40. ↑ Conti, Samantha (1 August 2017). "Pole Position: 'Poldark's' Aidan Turner on Stage, Screen — and Ross". WWD. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  41. ↑ Curtis, Nick (8 February 2023). "Aidan Turner on his new West End show Lemons Lemons Lemons... and returning to Poldark (or not)". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  42. ↑ "The Suspect's Aidan Turner reveals details on intimate Italian wedding". HELLO!. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  43. ↑ "Family man Aidan Turner on focusing on the most important things". independent. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  44. ↑ "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  45. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - A History of Ideas - Aidan Turner joins A History of Ideas". BBC. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  46. ↑ "It's Here: The Sandman Act 3 Cast List". Audible Blog. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  47. ↑ "Porcelain (2007)". aidan-turner.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  48. ↑ "Porcelain Movie Trailer – Aidan Turner". firstpost.com. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  49. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (26 September 2019). "'The Hobbit' & 'Poldark' Star Aidan Turner Joins Terrence Malick's Under-The-Radar Life Of Christ Movie". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  50. ↑ "Terrence Malick's The Last Planet Gets New Title". 20 November 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  51. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (10 May 2024). "Jeff Bridges, Dave Bautista to Star in Live-Action Monster Movie 'Grendel' from Jim Henson Company". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  52. ↑ "ITV has commissioned gripping, nail-biting thriller, The Suspect, starring Aidan Turner". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  53. ↑ Ravindran, Manori (4 August 2022). "Poldark's' Aidan Turner, Ella Lily Hyland Lead #MeToo Tennis Drama 'Fifteen-Love' for Amazon Prime Video (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  54. ↑ "Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner star in adaptation of racy Jilly Cooper novel". Independent.ie. 21 March 2023.
  55. ↑ https://deadline.com/2025/09/aidan-turner-the-diplomat-cast-season-3-netflix-1236508270/
  56. ↑ "Theatre". Aidan-turner.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  57. ↑ "The WFB Gazette – Results of SFX Awards 2011". Thewinchesterfamilybusiness.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  58. ↑ SFX Magazin (2011): WINNER! Best Sci-Fi Actor. Edition: April 2011. S.94
  59. ↑ "'SFX Sci-Fi Awards 2011' adayları belli oldu!". derinkirmizi.blogspot.de. 25 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  60. ↑ "SFX Awards 2012". Doctorwhonews.net. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  61. ↑ "Aidan And Being Human Nominated For SFX SciFi Awards". Aidan-turner.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  62. ↑ Jameson Empire Awards 2014: Best Male Newcomer - Aidan Turner | Empire Magazine, 31 March 2014, retrieved 27 July 2023
  63. ↑ "CinEuphoria Awards (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  64. ↑ "Poldark's Aidan Turner wins Radio Times Drama Champion title for second year running". Radio Times. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  65. ↑ Macro, Jen (11 March 2016). "BBC successes at 42nd Broadcasting Press Guild Awards". BBC. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  66. ↑ Bulkley, Kate (11 February 2016). "BPG Awards 2016 – Television nominations". Broadcasting Press Guild. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  67. ↑ Poldark Star Aidan Turner Wins TV Actor of the Year | Men of the Year Awards 2016 | British GQ, 6 September 2016, retrieved 27 July 2023
  68. ↑ "Irish Film & Television Academy | Irish Film & Television Awards". Irish Film & Television Academy . Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  69. ↑ Nordicdrama (12 April 2016). "Maniac And Trapped Nominated For Nymphe d'Or". NORDIC DRAMA. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  70. ↑ NTA 2016 Backstage Aidan Turner With his Impact Award, 27 April 2016, retrieved 27 July 2023
  71. ↑ Seale, Jack (20 January 2016). "The National Television Awards 2016: who should win?". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  72. ↑ "Poldark's Aidan Turner wins Radio Times Drama Champion title for second year running". Radio Times. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  73. ↑ "IFTA Academy | Irish Film & Television Academy | Irish Film & Television Awards". www.ifta.ie. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  74. ↑ Binding, Lucia (11 October 2016). "National Television Awards 2017: Jenna Coleman up against Aidan Turner and Tom Hiddleston". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  75. ↑ "Winners 2017". TV Choice. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  76. ↑ "Winners 2018". TV Choice. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  77. ↑ "The Stage Debut Awards". The Stage. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  78. ↑ "YOUR 2019 WINNERS". TV Choice. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  79. ↑ "2023 IFTA Nominees Announced". www.ifta.ie. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  80. ↑ "Sichuan TV Festival (2023)". IMDb. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  81. ↑ "2025 IFTA Nominations Announced". www.ifta.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  82. ↑ "Gossies 2025 Best Actor nominations". www.ifta.ie. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
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