Ruaridh Mollica

Last updated
Ruaridh Mollica
Born
Ruaridh Silvio James MacGillivray-Mollica

14 October
Prato, Italy
Alma mater Heriot-Watt University
Years active2013–present

Ruaridh Silvio James MacGillivray-Mollica (born 14 October) is a Scottish-Italian actor, writer, and director. He starred in the film Sebastian (2024). On television, he appeared in the Channel 5 series Witness Number 3 and the BBC Three series Red Rose (both 2022).

Contents

Early life and education

Mollica was born in Prato, Italy to a Scottish mother and an Italian father. [1] Mollica attended Broughton High School in Edinburgh. [2] He joined the Strange Town youth theatre company, where he met his agent Ruth Hollyman. [3] Mollica graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Heriot-Watt University in 2021. [4] During his time at university, he participated in snowsports. [5] He intended to do a Masters degree in Cybersecurity at a London university, but declined the offer when he was cast in Red Rose. [1]

Career

Mollica began his career as a child actor, making his television debut aged 12 in an episode of the BBC One series Case Histories with Jason Isaacs and Mark Bonnar and his feature film debut as a background dancer in the Sunshine on Leith adaptation. He worked on-and-off for a number of years, [1] appearing in the 2015 drama Stonemouth as a young version of Christian Cooke's character [6] and the 2018 romance film Tell It to the Bees .

During his final year at university, [1] Mollica returned to acting when his Strange Town agent Ruth Hollyman got him the lead role opposite Joshua Griffin in Sean Lionadh's 2022 short film Too Rough , [7] which won a Scottish BAFTA. He then landed his first recurring television role as Patrick Hume in the BBC Three horror series Red Rose , which Mollica declined his postgraduate university place to film, and his first main role in the Channel 5 series Witness Number 3. [8] He also appeared in Wasted at the Jack Studio Theatre. [9]

In 2024, Mollica starred as the lead character Max in Mikko Mäkelä's sophomore feature Sebastian , which opened at the Sundance Film Festival. [10] Mollica also played a young version of Stephen Moyer's character Teddy in the Paramount+ series Sexy Beast . He has an upcoming role in the film Sukkwan Island. [11]

Personal life

Regarding his sexuality, in a February 2024 interview with Queerty, Mollica said, "it was only when I moved to London and had the ability to be myself that I realised, Oh actually, no, I like men as well." [12]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013 Sunshine on Leith Dancer
2018 Tell It to the Bees Rose Attacker
2022 Too Rough NickShort film
2022The Doomsday ClockThe ReaderShort film; director, writer
2023 Boys on Film: Dangerous to Know Nick
2024 Sebastian Max
TBASukkwan Island

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013 Case Histories Freddie MarshallEpisode: "Nobody's Darling"
2015 Stonemouth Young StewartPart 1
2022Witness Number 3PoMain role
2022 Red Rose Patrick Hume5 episodes
2024 Sexy Beast Young Teddy Bass
TBA The Jetty Troy
TBA The Franchise
TBA Ridley Ryan StanfordSeries 2

Music videos

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bamigboye, Baz (19 January 2024). "Breaking Baz: Scottish-Italian Newcomer Ruaridh Mollica On His Breakthrough Performance In Mikko Makela's Sundance-Bound 'Sebastian'". Deadline. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  2. "Drama Students' Scripts Performed at Traverse". Broughton High School, Edinburgh. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. "Ruaridh Mollica". Strange Town Agency. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  4. "Congratulations class of 2021: Heriot-Watt University". The Herald. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. "Volunteer Awards 20/21". HWU Sports Union. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. Dibdin, Thom (8 June 2015). "Strange Town Nights". All Edinburgh Theatre. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  7. Orenstein, Eitan (26 March 2023). "In Conversation With Ruaridh Mollica". The Student. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. Palmer, Katie (20 July 2022). "Witness Number 3 cast: Who is in the Channel 5 series?". Daily Express. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  9. Chandra, Rika (25 November 2022). "Review: Wasted, Jack Studio". Everything Theatre. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  10. Avella, Frank J. (23 January 2024). "Sundance: Director Mikko Mäkelä, Star Ruaridh Mollica On Their Bold New Queer-Themed Film 'Sebastian'". AwardsDaily. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  11. "Swann Arlaud, Woody Norman, Ruaridh Mollica and Alma Pöysti to Star in 'Sukkwan Island' Film Adaptation From Haut Et Court (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  12. Scheetz, Cameron (1 February 2024). "Ruaridh Mollica says sex worker drama 'Sebastian' helped him understand his queerness". Queerty. Retrieved 2 February 2024.