Richard Madden

Richard Madden
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Name:
Richard Madden
Who is:
Birth date:
(39 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Elderslie, Scotland
Height:
6'0 ft ()
Weight:
174 lb (79 kg)
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Richard Madden's Biography

The enigmatic bodyguard, the impenetrable King in the North, the passionate Romeo - British actor Richard Madden brings all these roles to life with remarkable authenticity. He started as a shy, slightly overweight boy who transformed himself into a movie star. "Game of Thrones," "Medici," "Eternals" - just a few of the high-profile projects that have defined his career.
Richard Madden
Richard Madden

Childhood and Early Roles

Richard Madden was born in the Scottish village of Elderslie on June 18, 1986. Madden's father was a firefighter, while his mother managed the household and cared for their three children - Richard and his older and younger sisters. In 1997, she became a teacher at her son's elementary school, which he'd already graduated from.

Madden was an extremely shy child, despite growing up in his hippie parents' home that was always buzzing with guests, including some pretty eccentric characters. While he had no problem talking to adults, at school in the neighboring village of Paisley, he was too shy to even start conversations with kids his own age. He was self-conscious about his weight and became a frequent target for bullies.
Richard found refuge from childhood cruelty in the world of cinema. On the day of his grandfather's funeral, he watched Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" and "Shallow Grave" - his parents were too busy to stop him from watching films they normally considered too mature.

Richard's parents were advised to enroll him in a drama studio to help overcome his crippling shyness. Richard loved the creative outlet, but the bullying followed him to drama club. The choice was simple: attend the Paisley drama school or don't attend at all, since there were no other options in their area.
Richard Madden in childhood
Richard Madden in childhood
On stage, however, the boy shed his shyness and revealed remarkable artistic talent. Film producers took notice, and in 1999 he landed his first TV role in "Complicity" with Jonny Lee Miller and Brian Cox, an adaptation of a novel by Iain Banks. Richard's character is a teenager who has experienced rape. That same year, he landed one of the lead roles in the children's series "Barmy Aunt Boomerang," starring in it for two more years.
Richard Madden in 'Complicity'
Richard Madden in 'Complicity'
His film debut didn't exactly boost his popularity with classmates. In fact, poor eating habits during filming caused him to gain significant weight, which - combined with his role as a rape victim - made him a target for even worse bullying in high school.
When I went to high school, everyone knew that they would now be studying with 'the fat gay guy who was raped by a 50-year-old Scotsman.' I had a 40-inch waist, and until I was 19, I never wore jeans simply because my mother couldn't find a size that fit me.
In 2003, Richard graduated high school and enrolled at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.

Theater

Theater instantly captivated Richard. He quickly slimmed down, not wanting to become the target of fresh ridicule. Richard balanced his rigorous studies at the Madden Academy with stage performances - he even took on small roles in plays and appeared in commercials. His efforts paid off: Richard's performance in "The Fool" was a breakthrough that brought incredible success to the production. The production initially ran in a Scottish theater before the decision was made to bring it to London.
In 2005, representatives of the famous English theater "The Globe" noticed Madden in London. They immediately spotted the young actor's talent and made him an enticing offer - to join their company. Richard turned it down, deciding he needed to complete his education first, and headed back to Glasgow.

Madden returned to London at the end of 2006. The Globe hadn't forgotten the actor and offered him the male lead in their new production of "Romeo and Juliet". Just months later, Richard was performing on London's main stage in Shakespeare's timeless tragedy. In summer 2007, 21-year-old Madden took his Romeo to major venues across the UK with the company.
In the play 'Romeo and Juliet'
In the play 'Romeo and Juliet'

Career Advancement

The actor refused to give up on his screen comeback. In 2009, he played a minor role in the psychological horror movie "Chatroom", where the main character was portrayed by Aaron Johnson. In 2011, he landed a career-defining project - the series "Game of Thrones". Madden scored one of the show's most crucial roles - the eldest son of the Stark family, Robb, destined to become the King of the North after his father's death.
As Robb Stark in the series 'Game of Thrones'
As Robb Stark in the series 'Game of Thrones'
The first season of the project became incredibly popular, but critics had mixed reviews about Madden's character. On screen, he seemed overshadowed by the more dynamic Kit Harington, the Stark bastard with the more complex storyline. However, everything changed by the third season. Fans noticed Madden's growing confidence on screen and praised his chemistry with co-star - Charlie Chaplin's granddaughter Una.
Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner and I - we were all kids at the beginning of filming. We went on this incredible journey, literally growing up throughout the series. I haven't had any other similar job where I still maintain friendly relationships with the people I worked with.
The bloody death of the characters at the end of the third season broke the hearts of Richard's fans. However, the actor later admitted that he left the series at the right time. Many of his colleagues, who stayed with the show for nearly 10 years, struggled when "Game of Thrones" ended and found themselves typecast, including Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke.
Kit Harington, Richard Madden and Alfie Allen
Kit Harington, Richard Madden and Alfie Allen
After "Game of Thrones", Madden's career took off. In 2015, he brought to life on screen the classic image of the handsome prince in the new "Cinderella" directed by Kenneth Branagh. Richard drew on his theatrical experience as the lovestruck Romeo to bring authenticity to the role. On set, he worked alongside acclaimed actors - from Cate Blanchett to Stellan Skarsgård. Madden took his role seriously: in his downtime, he perfected his horseback riding and sword fighting skills.
Richard as Prince Charming
Richard as Prince Charming
That same year, he appeared in another romantic film - "Lady Chatterley's Lover". In 2016, he tried his hand at the action genre, starring alongside Idris Elba in "Bastille Day". A few months later, he returned to period drama, taking on the lead role - Cosimo de' Medici - in the series "Medici".
A scene from the series 'Medici'
A scene from the series 'Medici'
In 2018, showrunner Jed Mercurio offered Richard a completely new character. He crafted a political thriller about a bodyguard protecting a female minister while battling post-traumatic stress disorder. The six-part project "Bodyguard" successfully aired on BBC One that same year. The series drew comparisons to "Game of Thrones" for its massive viewership: each episode pulled in the biggest BBC audience in nine years. Madden even sparked buzz as a potential next James Bond.
Critics took notice, earning Richard a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series in 2018. That same year, he was already mastering low heels and flamboyant 70s fashion. The actor snagged a leading role in the biopic "Rocketman" about Elton John. Richard played John Reid, Elton's music manager, sharing Scottish roots with Madden.
Richard Madden receiving the Golden Globe statuette
Richard Madden receiving the Golden Globe statuette
The 2019 film sparked controversy - critics slammed the creators for depicting same-sex relationships and drug use. The controversial portrayal of the complex relationship between musician and manager fueled speculation about the actors' sexuality.
In the movie 'Rocketman'
In the movie 'Rocketman'
That same year, Richard appeared in Sam Mendes' epic war film "1917" as Lieutenant Blake.
Richard Madden answers the questions fans really want to know
In 2021, Marvel dropped another blockbuster - "Eternals", following a group of ancient supergods who watch over and protect humanity. Richard played one of the main characters, the deity Ikaris.
Richard Madden as Ikaris from 'Eternals'
Richard Madden as Ikaris from 'Eternals'
On set, he reunited with his "Game of Thrones" co-star Kit Harington, who plays not a god, but a human caught up in Earth's unfolding disaster. The project boasted an incredibly star-studded cast - Richard worked alongside Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek and others.
Richard Madden Talks Reuniting with Kit Harington for Eternals

Richard Madden's Personal Life

After the success of "Game of Thrones", Madden was immediately included in the lists of the sexiest men in Scotland, along with James McAvoy and Gerard Butler. Paparazzi followed his every move, eager to discover who had captured the bachelor's heart.
At the dawn of his success, in 2011, Richard dated "Doctor Who" actress Jenna Coleman. The relationship lasted 4 years. Insiders claimed that the actors were preparing for a wedding, but in 2015 the couple announced their breakup.
Richard Madden and Jenna Coleman
Richard Madden and Jenna Coleman
Then Richard was linked to brief flings with model Suki Waterhouse and reporter Laura Whitmore. In 2017, he was first spotted vacationing with young actress Ellie Bamber. Their romance ended in early 2019, with sources reporting that the relationship couldn't survive Madden's skyrocketing fame after "Bodyguard".
Madden with Ellie Bamber
Madden with Ellie Bamber
Later, the tabloids reported possible affairs with his "Cinderella" co-star Lily James or even "Rocketman" colleague Taron Egerton. Rumors also swirled that he and close friend Brandon Flynn were more than friends – sparked by photos of them walking arm in arm.
Richard with his friend Brandon Flynn
Richard with his friend Brandon Flynn
In 2020, rumors surfaced that Richard had moved in with young actor Froy Gutierrez. Madden hasn't addressed the speculation, keeping his personal life firmly out of interviews.

Richard Madden Now

In April 2023, the premiere of the science fiction series "Citadel" took place, starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra. Even before its release, it was renewed for a second season. "Playing two characters in one body is a massive challenge," Richard explained, praising the directorial genius of series creators the Russo brothers.
Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden in the series 'Citadel'
Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden in the series 'Citadel'

Interesting Facts

Richard spent a lot of time outside during his childhood, which left him with several scars as a reminder. He once grabbed his father's air gun and accidentally shot off part of his finger in a moment of inexperience. A few years later, he severely injured the same finger with a hammer while fixing a skateboard.

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