Richard Armitage was born on August 22nd 1971. He seems to have decided early what he wanted to do as a grown up and at 17 left for Budapest to get his Equity card. He attended LAMBDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) and has appeared on stage on several productions of the Royal Shakespeare Company. His first part in period dramas was as John Thornton in Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. He has an uncanny talent to explore his characters to the point where he seems rather different from part to part. After N&S he was offered several other roles in period dramas like Malice Aforethought (a murder mystery set in the 1930s), The Impressionists (as a young Claude Monet) , Miss Marie Lloyd (as Percy Courtenay, Marie Lloyd’s first husband) and Robin Hood (playing Guy of Gisborne) which is currently filming its third season. Armitage can be seen on TV these days in BBC Spooks.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
this is definitely a great place to start your actor spotlights! LOL!
LOL Marg, what can I say? We like to keep our visitors happy so we thought of who might be more appealing. We are selfless girls!! ;-)
An excellent choice to start you Actor Spotlight with. Richard Armitage is my favorite actor. As you pointed out he has the uncanny ability to completly lose himself in the character he is playing. His own shy, good humored person becomes the intense John Thornton or the evil Guy of Gisborne with brilliant results. Very much enjoying him as Lucas North in Spooks.
Thanks
Thanks for stopping by Lynn! I’m glad you enjoyed this post. I’m hoping I’ll get to watch Spooks soon.
Delighted that you’ve spotlighted the glorious mr A.
He’s my favourite actor too. Every character really does seem like a different man; even behind the eyes………
He’s on screen and you can’t watch anyhwere else.
The lovely Mr Armitage my favourite actor too .
Richard Armitage is my favourite actor too and has the ability to make each character his own and be totally believable.
If you compare John Thornton with Guy of Gisborne and with Lucas North it’s hard to believe you’re watching the same man.
He is a very talented actor and has a mesmerising presence on the small screen. As Amanda says, you just have to watch him and not look anywhere else.
Now Ana, why am I not surprised that you picked Richard?!!! Well done as a first choice! We haven’t got the latest series of Spooks over here yet, but I’m waiting for it with much anticipation.
I’m also looking forward to the next series of Robin Hood!
Arghhhhhhhhhhh and I can’t see the photo!!!!!
Hi Dee! :)
He had to be our first choice since he was one of the reasons (well let’s say Mr. Thornton :P ) why this blog was born. ;-)
Miss Fantasma,
I really do not understand how you cannot see the picture… Maybe it’s your browser? Tsk tsk tsk… ;-)
It’s my browser, I know.
He is one of my favourite actors – ever since I saw him in the BBC’s North & South ;0)
You obviously have good taste in choosing the scrummy Richard Armitage! Well done!
He’s sex on legs (leather ones!)
Oh yes he can act too!
Bit late joining this one but have to say he is absoultely wonderful (so sexy). My favourite actor of all time!
He comes across as such a nice, caring person in interviews. I remember reading how Marian said he put her under his wing and would help her. What a nice man – he could put me under his wing any day!
Very intuitive actor
Mr. Armitage puts intelligence, honesty, and concentration into his performances. It is rare for an actor to be able to keep a character congruent emotionally and physically. This is especially true in his portrayal of John Thornton in “North and South,” a character whose changing feelings were reflected in body language that seamlessly evolved from ironclad to ardent. Good acting and an excellent production overall.