Richard Madden

Richard Madden Bio

Richard Madden (born 18 June 1986) is a Scottish actor known for his work across television and film. He first garnered widespread attention for his portrayal of Robb Stark in the HBO fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. He is also recognized for his work in the romantic fantasy film Cinderella and the acclaimed BBC thriller series Bodyguard, the latter earning him a Golden Globe Award. With a career spanning over two decades, Richard Madden has become a prominent figure in contemporary cinema and television.

Early Life and Background

Richard Madden was born on 18 June 1986 in Elderslie, outside the city of Glasgow, Scotland. He grew up in the area alongside his two sisters. His mother worked as a primary school teacher, and his father served as a firefighter, anchoring the family in a working-class background that the actor has publicly acknowledged with pride. Madden has spoken about his early struggles with shyness and body insecurities, and he has mentioned experiencing bullying in school, which he attributed in part to his early acting work.

At age 11, Richard Madden joined PACE Youth Theatre to help overcome his shyness. That same year, he was cast in his first role as young Andy in a film adaptation of Iain Banks’ Complicity, which was released in 2000. He also took the lead role of Sebastian in the children’s television series Barmy Aunt Boomerang, which aired from 1999 until 2000. These early experiences provided his first exposure to the craft and helped him find his footing in front of the camera.

Richard Madden attended Castlehead High School in his hometown area. He later studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, in Glasgow, graduating in 2007. His training at the conservatoire sharpened his stage skills and set the foundation for his transition into professional acting.

Path to Acting

During his studies, Richard Madden worked with The Arches and the Glasgow Repertory Company, and he performed in Franz Xaver Kroetz’s play Tom Fool at the Citizens Theatre. After receiving positive reviews, the production of Tom Fool transferred to London, where he was noticed by a team from Shakespeare’s Globe. In his final year at the conservatoire, he was cast as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at the modern Globe Theatre in London, followed by a tour of the production during the summer of 2007. Critics offered a mixed but attentive response, with Susan Elkin of The Stage describing his portrayal of Romeo as gravelly and almost childlike.

That same year, Richard Madden played Callum McGregor in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Malorie Blackman’s Noughts & Crosses, which ran from December 2007 to February 2008. He then starred as Mark McNulty in the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of the play Be Near Me in 2009, drawing praise from reviewers at The Daily Telegraph and The Observer. He followed these stage achievements with the lead role of Dean McKenzie in the 2009 BBC comedy-drama series Hope Springs, and with roles as Ripley and Kirk Brandon in the 2010 films Chatroom and Worried About the Boy. These projects marked his transition into the wider British film and television industry.

Richard Madden Career

Early Career (2000–2010)

Richard Madden made his screen acting debut in 2000, appearing as young Andy in the film Complicity. As a child performer, he balanced early film work with school life in Renfrewshire, and he also took the lead in the children’s series Barmy Aunt Boomerang. While he did not yet receive widespread attention, these roles offered early on-the-job training and gave him a foothold in the industry.

Throughout the late 2000s, Richard Madden built a steady résumé of stage and screen credits. He toured with Shakespeare’s Globe, appeared in Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre of Scotland productions, and took supporting roles in British films and television. By the time he graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2007, he had already developed a reputation among UK critics for his serious approach to classical and contemporary roles.

Breakthrough (2011–2018)

Richard Madden rose to global fame with his portrayal of Robb Stark in the HBO fantasy drama series Game of Thrones, based on George R. R. Martin’s novels A Song of Ice and Fire, appearing from 2011 to 2013. The role propelled him to prominence, and the ensemble cast earned Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2011 and 2013. During this period, he also appeared in the Channel 4 comedy-drama series Sirens and the BBC drama series Birdsong, and he obtained his Screen Actors Guild card for the 2014 miniseries Klondike, in which he played real-life adventurer Bill Haskell.

In 2015, Richard Madden portrayed Prince Kit in Cinderella, a romantic fantasy film and live-action adaptation of the animated film of the same name. Released in March 2015, Cinderella was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $542 million worldwide. The following year, he starred as Romeo in a West End production of Romeo and Juliet at the Garrick Theatre, reuniting with his Cinderella co-star Lily James and director Kenneth Branagh. In 2016, he also played the lead role of Cosimo de’ Medici in the first season of the Italian-British television drama series Medici, subtitled Masters of Florence.

Richard Madden garnered wide acclaim for playing Sergeant David Budd, a war veteran and police officer with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in the 2018 BBC thriller series Bodyguard. He spoke with members of the armed forces who had experienced PTSD to inform his portrayal, and critics responded strongly to his performance. After the series finale became the most-watched UK television drama episode on record, Netflix released Bodyguard worldwide in October 2018. Richard Madden’s performance earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama in 2019.

Notable Works and Milestones

Richard Madden’s signature work spans Game of Thrones, Cinderella, Bodyguard, Rocketman, 1917, and Eternals. Among his most recognized achievements are his Golden Globe Award win for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama and his inclusion on the Time 100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019. His transition from supporting British television roles to leading international productions has defined his career trajectory.

Richard Madden Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Richard Madden has received nominations from major industry organizations, including Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series as part of the Game of Thrones cast in 2011 and 2013. These nominations reflect his contributions to ensemble television drama and his standing within the Screen Actors Guild.

Richard Madden Awards Won

Richard Madden has won several career honors, most notably the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama, which he received in 2019 for his performance as Sergeant David Budd in the BBC thriller series Bodyguard. In 2019, he was also named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time, and he received the GQ Men of the Year Award for Hugo Boss Most Stylish Man. That same year, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his achievements.

Richard Madden Family

Richard Madden grew up in Elderslie, outside Glasgow, alongside his two sisters. His mother worked as a primary school teacher, and his father served as a firefighter, grounding the family in a working-class environment. The actor has spoken publicly about his pride in this background and his awareness of inequality in education, particularly the lack of creative opportunities for working-class children in schools.

Personal Life

Richard Madden was in a relationship with actress Jenna Coleman from 2011 to 2015. He has generally kept his personal life private, stating in a New York Times interview that he simply keeps his personal life personal. As of May 2019, he splits his time between his residence in London, England, and Los Angeles.