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.
5. Richard Madden on...Robb Stark
"Robb Stark was a young man not expecting anything, thinking his life is going to be on one path, and then he's pushed. More weight and responsibility get put onto him; more demands are made of him. For me, as an actor, there are parallels to that." Photo: Lars Niki
6. Richard Madden on...being recognised
"If ever anyone comes up to me, it's usually like, 'You look really like that guy on that show.' And you're like, 'Really?' And they're like, 'Yeah. Cool. See you later.' And you're like, 'Cool, man.'" Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez
7. Richard Madden on...wanting to be in a sci-fi film
"I'm dying to do something sci-fi! I would love to be on a spaceship and firing a laser gun! Something like that would be really awesome. Or something with dinosaurs. Or preferably both at once." Photo: Jeff Spicer
8. Richard Madden on...class
"Undoubtedly there is a difference between people with money having access to the arts that people from working-class backgrounds don't have, but that's not their fault. I'm not taking anything away from these brilliant actors who are doing great stuff in Hollywood. A lot of them are my friends." Photo: Jesse Grant