Colin Morgan

Colin Morgan (born 1 January 1986) is an Irish actor. He is known for playing the title character in the BBC fantasy series Merlin (2008–2012), Leo Elster in Humans (2015–2018), and Billy Clanton in Kenneth Branagh's Belfast.

Morgan made his London theatre debut in 2007 as the title character in DBC Pierre's Vernon God Little. He went on to appear in the theatre productions Pedro Almodóvar's Todo sobre mi 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, Step in Time at The Old Vic 24 Hour Musicals Celebrity Gala in 2012, Shakespeare's The Tempest in 2013, and Jez Butterworth's Mojo during 2013 and 2014.

In July 2008, Screen International named Morgan as a "Star of Tomorrow". For his performance in Merlin, Morgan was nominated for Outstanding Actor (Drama) in the Monte Carlo TV Festival Awards in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and Best Actor in Drama Performance: Male in the National Television Awards in 2013.

Early life and education Morgan was born on 1 January 1986 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.

In 1997, Morgan began studies at Integrated College Dungannon. Morgan starred in several college productions including Surgical Sensations at St. Senapods and Bad Day at Black Frog Creek.

Morgan was awarded a National Diploma in Performing Arts from the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education in 2004. He graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2007. During his undergraduate course, he was discovered by theatre director Rufus Norris and left three-quarters of the way through his final year to make his London West End theatre debut as the title character in Vernon God Little. Morgan's performance was well received and used as part of his assessment for his final grade.

In November 2010, the Belfast Metropolitan College honoured Morgan with an Award of Distinction for his contribution to the Arts.

Career

Theatre Morgan made his stage debut in London as the titular character Vernon God Little mounted at the Young Vic in 2007. That same year, Morgan played the role of Esteban, an aspiring teenage writer, in the Old Vic stage adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar's All About My Mother. For both of these roles, Morgan was nominated for the 2007 London Newcomer of the Year in the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards. The Independent noted Morgan brought Jimmy to life through "twisting, twitching mood-swings and mix of half-druggy cackling punk and half-angelic visionary." Variety also singled out his "remarkable level of twitchy intensity."

In 2011, Morgan performed in the Royal Court Theatre production of Pedro Miguel Rozo's play Our Private Life to favourable reviews as Carlos, a "bipolar compulsive fantasist" homosexual who suspects he was molested by his father as a child. On 9 December 2012, Morgan performed the role of Gary, a flamboyant dance instructor trying to win the heart of one of his students, in Step in Time at The Old Vic 24 Hour Musicals Celebrity Gala in aid of The Old Vic Trust.

He played Ariel in the 2013 Globe Theatre production of The Tempest, which was later broadcast to cinemas as part of Globe On Screen in May 2014, with a subsequent DVD release in July 2014 and then was also later released online via the Globe's online platform in 2022. For this role, Morgan sought to imbue his portrayal of Ariel with "ethereal stillness" and "acrobatic precision". The Washington Post critic said that he "can't remember a better Ariel," and that Morgan's portrayal was "mysterious, in a way I've never quite experienced before – also wonderfully vulnerable".

From 2013 to 2014, Morgan played Skinny Luke in Jez Butterworth's dark comedy Mojo at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Radio Times described Morgan's performance as "an accomplished study in human weakness ... played with precision and pathos." In 2017, Morgan returned to London theatre, appearing in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Gloria, a comic drama. Morgan made his National Theatre debut in May 2018, starring in the new production of Brian Friel's Translations, directed by Ian Rickson.

In 2019, he appeared in Arthur Miller's All My Sons at the Old Vic as Chris Keller, a production that was screened in cinemas and later made available through the National Theatre's online streaming platform in 2021.

He performed at the Bridge Theatre in early 2020, for Caryl Churchill's A Number.

Television

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

2008–2012: Merlin

Morgan played the title role in BBC TV series Merlin from 2008 to 2012. The series chronicles the adventures of a young warlock who serves as Arthur's servant and Gaius' ward; Merlin must secretly develop his magical gifts under the gaze of Kings Uther and Arthur, both of whom despise the art.

The show was loosely based on the Arthurian legends of Merlin and his relationship with King Arthur. Morgan was nominated for and won multiple acting awards, including the Caron Keating Outstanding Newcomer Award in the 56th annual Variety Club Showbiz Award ceremony on 16 November 2008 (at the start of the series) and the Best Actor in Drama Performance: Male award in the 2013 National Television Awards (at the conclusion of the series).

The role of Merlin proved difficult to cast, according to co-creator and executive producer Johnny Capps. "We had to find an actor who has a broad playing range, someone with the lightness of touch who will be able to deal with action and magic", Capps said in a 2011 interview. "We had an instinct about Colin. At first we weren't sure about him but then saw him again and again and we watched back his final auditions and said, 'He's perfect for the part.'" Before auditioning for the role, Morgan received the script for Prince Arthur by mistake. He only had five minutes before his audition to read over the correct part.

2014–present After spending 2013 in back-to-back stage productions, Morgan reappeared on television as an ambitious journalist in an episode of the 1950s Irish crime drama Quirke, based on the books by John Banville.

Later that year, he took on the role of detective sergeant in the second series of The Fall. Morgan was approached to play the role, meeting with writer Allan Cubitt and lead actress Gillian Anderson in London to discuss his involvement. To prepare for his performance, Morgan read up on police procedures and spoke to the set's police advisor. He also did an impromptu interview of two police officers he saw in the street in London.

In June 2015, Morgan began his role as the mysterious fugitive Leo Elster in Humans, a British-American AMC / Channel 4 eight-part science fiction drama. Humans was Channel 4's highest-rated drama since The Camomile Lawn (1992). Reviewer Paul Simpson described Morgan as one who "always rises to strong material, and [whose] performance has become increasingly engaging as the series has progressed".

In mid-2016, Morgan starred in the BBC One Victorian era ghost hunter series The Living and the Dead as the central character Nathan Appleby. Later that year, he reprised his roles in The Fall's third series and in the second series of Humans.

Film Morgan portrayed a homeless drug-addict in the 2010 independent Irish film Parked, for which he spent several weeks in Dublin researching drug addiction and homelessness. Morgan's performance was praised by multiple critics and director Darragh Byrne.

In 2011, Morgan appeared in the film Island, an independent adaptation of Jane Rogers' novel Island.

Morgan next portrayed WWI British soldier Victor Richardson, in a BBC Films and Heyday Films feature adaptation of Vera Brittain's World War I memoir Testament of Youth. To prepare for the role of the soldier, Morgan read Brittain's works, as well as personal letters exchanged between Vera, Victor, and their friends. He also contacted a Blind Veterans Charity in Brighton, which allowed him to interview blind people. The British Film Institute's brochure said, "Shining brightly and lingering long in the mind afterwards, are the performances of three rising British stars – Colin Morgan, Taron Egerton and Kit Harington".

In the fourth quarter of 2015, Morgan was featured as Frankie Shea, brother-in-law and personal driver of lead character Reggie Kray, in the 1960s London gangster film Legend.

For two days in Blackpool, from 9 to 10 May 2015, Morgan filmed The Laughing King, a short film by White No Sugar TV and Funky Films in support of the UK charity Campaign Against Living Miserably's (CALM) push to raise awareness regarding depression, mental illness and male suicide. He played the role of Jake, a young man who arrives in Blackpool, the seaside town of his childhood, determined to end his life. It was released on 12 January 2016, in the London Short Film Festival.

In 2015, he was attached to play the lead role of Seán Mac Diarmada in a planned film about the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. In 2020, the film producer said he was still seeking additional financing for the project.

Morgan filmed Waiting for You from May to June 2015. In April 2016, Morgan portrayed the Duke of Blackwood in the Snow White and the Huntsman spin-off, The Huntsman: Winter's War. In the fourth quarter of 2016, Morgan filmed the Oscar Wilde biopic The Happy Prince in Bavaria, Germany. In mid-2017, Morgan played the title role in Benjamin, a film written and directed by Simon Amstell.

In 2021, Morgan appeared in Kenneth Branagh's film Belfast, based on the director's childhood during the Troubles. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. In 2022, he appeared in the film Corsage, which was short-listed for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film as a submission from Austria. In 2022, he completed filming on Long Day's Journey into Night, an adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's 1956 play. The independent production faced financing challenges.

Radio Morgan took part in BBC Radio play Cry Babies by Kim Newman on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009, playing the part of Roger. In December 2014, he starred as Newton Pulsifer in the first audio dramatisation of the popular book Good Omens, written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, and directed and adapted by Dirk Maggs, also on BBC Radio 4.

On 4 December 2016, Morgan read Autumn Journal on BBC Radio 3, which was about Louis MacNeice's poetic testament of life in 1938, written against the turbulent backdrop of the Munich Agreement, the fall of Barcelona and Britain's preparations for an inevitable war.

Writing His first novel, The Ballad of Ronan McCoy, was published by HarperCollins UK imprint HQ on 18 June 2026.

Narration For the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking on 14 April 2012, Morgan performed readings from survivor accounts and testimonials during Titanic: A Commemoration in Music and Film, broadcast live on BBC2 from Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

On 27 August 2014, Morgan narrated Big Mountain Productions' Addicts Symphony on Channel 4. The one-off documentary followed composer, musician and recovering alcoholic James McConnel as he brought together ten classical musicians whose lives had been blighted by addiction for a spectacular concert.

Since 2018, Morgan has narrated The Chronicles ... series for BBC NI, which takes a year-long look at areas in Northern Ireland. Starting with The Chronicles of Mourne, each episode covers a season in the year, starting with spring and moving to winter. In 2020, The Chronicles of Mourne was followed by The Chronicles of Erne, with The Chronicles of Belfast in 2023. In 2024, the series will expand with The Chronicles of Armagh, detailing Morgan's home county.

Video games Morgan voiced Merlin's game sequences in 2012's Merlin: The Game.

Personal life

Morgan has advocated ethical consumerism and practises yoga.

Morgan does not participate in social media, saying: "There's no social media or googling yourself. You only have to do it once to learn never to do it again."

Morgan has also criticised celebrity culture:Something has been lost somewhere along the way with the craft of story-telling ... When the creativity is overshadowed by the "business" I often feel disappointed by that. We have some amazing filmmakers who are keeping the spirit of the craft alive and that's a hub of excitement I want to be in.

Charity and activism From October 2009 until its conclusion in March 2011, Morgan was an ambassador for the A Night Less Ordinary scheme in which Arts Council England offered free theatre tickets to anyone under 26 years old. He contributed a painting from the Merlin: Colin and Bradley Quest'' series to the 2010 BBC Children in Need auction. It sold for £620.

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theatre Year Title Role Director Company2007 Vernon God Little Vernon Little Rufus Norris Young Vic Theatre All About My Mother Esteban Tom Cairns Old Vic Theatre 2008 A Prayer for My Daughter Jimmy Rosario Dominic Hill Young Vic Theatre 2011 Our Private Life Carlos Lyndsey Turner Royal Court Theatre 2012 The 24 Hour Musicals Celebrity Gala Gary Jamie Lloyd Old Vic Theatre 2013 The Tempest Ariel Jeremy Herrin Shakespeare's Globe 2013–2014 Mojo Skinny Luke Ian Rickson Harold Pinter Theatre 2017 Gloria Dean/Devin Michael Longhurst Hampstead Theatre 2018 Translations Owen Ian Rickson Royal National Theatre 2019 All My Sons Chris Keller Jeremy Herrin Old Vic Theatre 2020 A Number B1/B2/Michael Polly Findlay Bridge Theatre

Radio Year Title Role Channel Notes 2009 Cry Babies Roger BBC Radio 4 2014 Good Omens Newton Pulsifer BBC Radio 4 2016 Autumn Journal Reader BBC Radio 3 Poetry 2017 Keeping in Touch Tom BBC Radio 4 The Coming of the Martians George 2018 The Merchant of Venice Bassanio BBC Radio 3 2018 Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology Loki BBC Radio 4 2019 Passenger List Thomas Rider Radiotopia Podcast 2019 A Border Fantasy Fintan BBC 2026 The Bacchae Bacchus BBC Radio 4

Narration Year Title Role Channel Notes 2012 Titanic: A Commemoration in Music and Film Self BBC Two Documentary 2013 The Young Lion: Birth of the Plantagenets Narrator Audible Audiobook 2014 Addicts SymphonyNarrator Channel 4 Documentary with James McConnel The Lion Rampant: Birth of the PlantagenetsNarrator Audible Audiobook 2018 The Chronicles of MourneNarrator BBC One Documentary The Vault: Audible Original Jimmy Walker Audible Audiobook The Worldship Humility NarratorAudible Audiobook 2020 The Chronicles of ErneNarrator BBC One Documentary The Lions' Torment: Birth of the PlantagenetsNarrator Audible Audiobook The Lioness WakesNarratorAudible Audiobook 2021 Slaine: The Horned God Narrator (Slaine)Audible Audiobook 2021 The Chronicles of the GlensNarrator BBC One Documentary 2022 Mountain Vets Narrator BBC Two Series 3; documentary 2022 Discworld: the Wizard seriesNarrator Penguin Audio 2022 The Chronicles of StrangfordNarratorBBC One Documentary 2023 The Chronicles of BelfastNarrator BBC One Documentary 2024 The Chronicles of ArmaghNarratorBBC One Documentary 2025 The Chronicles of The SperrinsNarratorBBC One Documentary

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2012 Merlin: The Game Merlin Voice

Other credits Year Title Role Company 2004–2007 Jack and the Beanstalk Archie RSAMD The Caucasian Chalk Circle Singer (Arkadi Tsheidse) RSAMD The Tempest Ferdinand RSAMD Plasticine Groom/Grandmother RSAMD Last Supper Young Man/Chorus RSAMD Vassa Semyon RSAMD God the Game Show Stewart RSAMD Bite of the Night First Youth / chorus RSAMD

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2008 Variety Club Showbiz Awards London Newcomer of the Year 2009 Monte Carlo TV Festival Awards Outstanding Actor (Drama) Merlin Seoul International Drama Awards Best ActorMerlin 2010 Monte Carlo TV Festival Awards Outstanding Actor (Drama)Merlin 2011 Monte Carlo TV Festival Awards Outstanding Actor (Drama)Merlin TV Quick Awards Best ActorMerlin 2012 TV Quick Awards Best ActorMerlin 2013 Broadway World West End Awards Best Featured Actor in a New Production of a Play The Tempest National Television Awards Drama Performance: Male Merlin SFX Awards Best Actor Translations 2020 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role All My Sons 2021Critics' Choice Movie AwardsCritics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble BelfastActor Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Belfast