Born in the village of Elderslie, 11 miles west of Glasgow, in 1986, Richard Madden’s acting careeer started at the age of 11 when he joined the PACE Youth Theatre group to help overcome his shyness.
His first roles followed swiftly afterwards, in a film adaptation of Iain Banks’ ‘Complicity’ and as the lead in children’s television series ‘Barmy Aunt Boomerang’.
After leaving Castlehead High School he studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, working with The Arches and the Glasgow Repertory Company while studying.
A tour with Shakespeare's Globe company as Romeo in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ followed, before he shot to stardom with his role as Robb Stark in the fantasy television series Game of Thrones.
More success in television quickly arrived in his portrayal of a police officer in thriller ‘Bodyguard’, for which he won a Golden Globe.
Other major parts in films include as Prince Kit in ‘Cinderella’, as Ikaris in the Marvel film ‘Eternals’, playing a soldier in war film ‘1917’ and as music manager John Reid in Elton John biopic ‘Rocketman’.
And he’s continued to take on small screen roles, including as Italian banker Cosimo de' Medici in historical series ‘Medici’ and, most recently, as a spy in the action thriller series ‘Citadel’ that hit screens this year.
1. Richard Madden on...the lack of opportunities at his school
"My school didn't have a drama department. I was one of the lucky four children who got to travel twice a week to another school because our school could only afford one taxi." Photo: Charley Gallay
2. Richard Madden on...joining a youth theatre
"My best friend was really cool, and she went to a youth theatre in Paisley, so I thought maybe that's the way to do it. I went along, and I immediately found something I was passionate about and really enjoyed." Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer
3. Richard Madden on...promoting films
"For 'Cinderella,' I did six weeks of those interviews, where you get asked the same eight questions. If you're not capable of doing that gracefully, then don't do it." Photo: Getty Images
4. Richard Madden on...the challenges of filming
"I thought 'Game of Thrones' had this challenge in filming, and it's one of those things you think, 'It can't get worse than this,' because it's really cold, and you're in pain, and it's miserable." Photo: Rachel Murray