42 Facts About Colin Morgan

Colin Morgan was born on 1 January 1986 and is a Northern Irish actor.

Colin Morgan is best known for playing the title character in the BBC fantasy series Merlin, Leo Elster in Humans, and Billy Clanton in Kenneth Branagh's Belfast.

Colin Morgan went on to appear in the theatre productions Pedro Almodovar's Todo sobre mi madre 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.

Colin Morgan was born in Armagh, Northern Ireland, the son of Bernard, a painter and decorator, and Bernadette, a nurse.

Colin Morgan is the younger of two brothers; they were both raised Roman Catholic.

Colin Morgan starred in several college productions including Surgical Sensations at St Senapods and Bad Day at Black Frog Creek.

Colin Morgan was awarded a National Diploma in Performing Arts from the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education in 2004.

Colin Morgan graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2007.

Colin Morgan's performance was well received and used as an assessment for his final grade.

Colin Morgan made his professional stage debut in London as the titular character Vernon God Little mounted at the Young Vic in 2007.

For both of these roles, Colin Morgan was nominated for the 2007 London Newcomer of the Year in the Whatsonstage.

In 2008, Colin Morgan appeared in the Young Vic production of Thomas Babe's A Prayer for My Daughter.

In 2011, Colin 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, Colin 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.

Colin Morgan played Ariel opposite Roger Allam's Prospero 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.

From 2013 to 2014, Colin Morgan made his West End debut as Skinny Luke in Jez Butterworth's dark comedy Mojo at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

In 2017, Colin Morgan returned to London theatre, appearing in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Gloria, a comic drama.

Colin Morgan made his National Theatre debut in May 2018, starring in the new production of Brian Friel's Translations, directed by Ian Rickson.

Colin Morgan performed at the Bridge Theatre in early 2020, for Caryl Churchill's A Number opposite Roger Allam.

Colin Morgan is best known for playing the title role in BBC TV series Merlin from 2008 to 2012 Merlin 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.

Colin 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 and the Best Actor in Drama Performance: Male award in the 2013 National Television Awards.

Colin Morgan only had five minutes before his audition to read over the correct part.

Colin Morgan was approached to play the role, meeting with writer Allan Cubitt and lead actress Gillian Anderson in London to discuss his involvement.

Colin Morgan did an impromptu interview of two police officers he saw in the street in London.

In mid-2016, Colin Morgan starred with actress Charlotte Spencer in the BBC One Victorian era ghost hunter series The Living and the Dead as the central character Nathan Appleby.

Colin Morgan portrayed a homeless drug-addict opposite Colm Meaney in the 2010 independent Irish film Parked, for which he spent several weeks in Dublin researching drug addiction and homelessness.

Colin Morgan's performance was praised by multiple critics and director Darragh Byrne.

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

Colin 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.

Colin Morgan contacted a Blind Veterans Charity in Brighton, which allowed him to interview blind people.

For two days in Blackpool, from 9 to 10 May 2015, Colin 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 push to raise awareness regarding depression, mental illness and male suicide.

Colin Morgan played the role of Jake, a young man who arrives in Blackpool, the seaside town of his childhood, determined to end his life.

Colin Morgan filmed Waiting for You from May to June 2015, co-starring with French actress Fanny Ardant.

In mid-2017, Colin Morgan played the title role in Benjamin, a film written and directed by Simon Amstell.

In 2021, Colin Morgan appeared in Kenneth Branagh's film Belfast, based on the director's childhood during The Troubles.

Colin Morgan took part in BBC Radio play Cry Babies by Kim Newman on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009, playing the part of Roger.

On 4 December 2016, Colin 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.

On 27 August 2014, Colin Morgan narrated Big Mountain Productions' Addicts Symphony on Channel 4.

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

From October 2009 until its conclusion in March 2011, Colin 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.

Colin Morgan contributed a painting from the Merlin: Colin and Bradley Quest series to the 2010 BBC Children in Need auction.

On 9 April 2011, Colin Morgan collected funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital.