Aidan Gillen
| Aidan Gillen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Aidan Murphy 24 April 1968 Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse(s) | Olivia O'Flanagan (m. 2001 - 2014) |
| Children | Berry Murphy, Joe Murphy |
Aidan Gillen (/ˈɡɪlɛn/; born Aidan Murphy; 24 April 1968) is an Irish actor.
He is best known for portraying Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish in the HBO series Game of Thrones, Tommy Carcetti in the HBO series The Wire, CIA operative Bill Wilson in The Dark Knight Rises, Stuart Alan Jones in the Channel 4 series Queer as Folk, and John Boy in the RTÉ Television series Love/Hate. He also hosted seasons 10 through 13 of Other Voices.
Gillen has won three Irish Film & Television Awards[1] and has been nominated for a British Academy Television Award, a British Independent Film Award, and a Tony Award.[2]
Early life
Gillen was born in Drumcondra, Dublin. He was educated at St. Vincent's C.B.S. in Glasnevin. He began his acting career as a teenager with the Dublin Youth Theatre, playing Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Project Arts Centre before moving to London.[3]
Career
Gillen played Stuart Alan Jones in the groundbreaking Channel 4 television series Queer as Folk and its sequel, for which he received a British Academy Television Award nomination for Best Actor. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his highly acclaimed Broadway role in Harold Pinter's play The Caretaker[4] and has also been nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award for his portrayal of Teach in the Dublin Gate Theatre's 2007 production of David Mamet's American Buffalo.[5]
In 2004, having been spotted by producers in The Caretaker, Gillen was cast as Tommy Carcetti in the acclaimed HBO series The Wire, for which he received an Irish Film & Television Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television. In 2008, he was named an "Irish cult hero" by the Sunday Tribune. He appeared in the 2009 film 12 Rounds, and in July of that year, he appeared in the one-off BBC2 drama Freefall. He co-starred as Phil Hendrick in the British drama Thorne.
In 2011, Gillen began playing Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish on the HBO series Game of Thrones, for which he received his second Irish Film & Television Award nomination.[6] To date he has appeared in all six broadcast seasons.[7] He starred as cop killer Barry Weiss in the British crime-thriller Blitz and in the British horror film Wake Wood. He played crime boss John Boy in the acclaimed Irish crime-drama Love/Hate,[8] for which he received his third Irish Film & Television Award nomination and second win.
In 2012, Gillen played CIA agent Bill Wilson[9] (referred to solely as "CIA" in the film's dialogue; the character's name is revealed in the film's novelization) in The Dark Knight Rises, his first role in a major Hollywood film.[10] Gillen said he enjoyed playing the role, but preferred low-budget lead roles to blockbuster bit-parts.[10] Gillen's character subsequently became the subject of an Internet meme popular among 4chan users known as "Baneposting", which references the dialogue between Wilson and Tom Hardy's character Bane in the film's opening plane scene.[11][12] The same year, Gillen also starred in the British spy-drama Shadow Dancer, and was announced as the new host of the music show Other Voices.[13][14]
Gillen starred in the BBC five-part thriller Mayday in 2013, and the Irish comedy-drama film Calvary the following year.[15] He shared a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination with the cast of Game of Thrones for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. He also starred in the short film Ekki Múkk,[16] created for the Valtari Mystery Film Experiment by Icelandic band Sigur Rós. Gillen also starred as Janson in the second film, The Scorch Trials, in the Maze Runner trilogy.[17]
Personal life
In 2001, Gillen married Olivia O'Flanagan. The couple have two children and lived in Dingle; they separated in 2014.[18] In 2009, when Gillen won an Irish Film and Television Award for his role in The Wire, he dedicated the award to his wife and children, whom Gillen has stated "were a big motivation" for him.[19] Gillen's current partner is singer Camille O'Sullivan.[20]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Drip | Young Guy | Short film |
| 1987 | The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne | Youth at Liquor Store | Credited as Aidan Murphy |
| 1988 | The Courier | Boy | Credited as Aidan Murphy |
| 1995 | Circle of Friends | Aidan Lynch | |
| 1996 | Some Mother's Son | Gerard Quigley | |
| 1997 | Mojo | Baby | |
| 1998 | Gold in the Streets | Paddy | |
| 1998 | Amazing Grace | Young Man | Short film |
| 1999 | Buddy Boy | Francis | |
| 2000 | The Second Death | Pool Player | Short film |
| 2000 | The Low Down | Frank | |
| 2001 | My Kingdom | Barry Puttnam | |
| 2001 | Robertson Major | William Robertson | Short film |
| 2002 | The Final Curtain | Dave Turner | |
| 2003 | Photo Finish | Joe Wilde | |
| 2003 | Shanghai Knights | Lord Nelson Rathbone | |
| 2003 | Burning the Bed | Stephen | Short film |
| 2006 | Trouble with Sex | Conor | |
| 2008 | Blackout | Karl | |
| 2009 | 12 Rounds | Miles Jackson | |
| 2009 | Spunkbubble | Dessie | Short film |
| 2009 | Runners | Terry | Short film |
| 2010 | Treacle Jr. | Aidan | |
| 2011 | Wake Wood | Patrick Daley | |
| 2011 | Blitz | Barry Weiss | |
| 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | CIA Agent Bill Wilson[21] | |
| 2012 | Shadow Dancer | Gerry | |
| 2012 | Ekki Múkk | Little One | Short film |
| 2012 | The Good Man | Michael | |
| 2013 | Scrapper | Ray | |
| 2013 | The Note | Lars | Short film |
| 2013 | Mister John | Gerry Devine | |
| 2013 | Beneath the Harvest Sky | Clayton | |
| 2013 | Song | Dan | Short film |
| 2014 | Calvary | Dr. Frank Harte | |
| 2014 | Still | Carver | |
| 2014 | Song | Dan | Short film |
| 2014 | Ambition[22] | Master | Short film |
| 2015 | You're Ugly Too | Will | |
| 2015 | Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials | Janson | |
| 2016 | Sing Street | Robert | |
| 2017 | The Lovers | Robert | |
| 2017 | King Arthur: Legend of the Sword | Goosefat Bill | |
| 2018 | Maze Runner: The Death Cure | Janson | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Wanderly Wagon | Shadow | |
| 1990 | The Play on One | Harry | Episode: "Killing Time" |
| 1992 | An Ungentlemanly Act | Marine Wilcox | Television film |
| 1993 | A Handful of Stars | Tony | Television film |
| 1993 | Belfry | Dominic | Television film |
| 1993 | The Bill | Jeff Barratt | Episode: "Play the Game" |
| 1993 | Screenplay | Gypo | Episode: "Safe" |
| 1994 | In Suspicious Circumstances | James Crozier | Episode: "To Encourage the Others" |
| 1999–2000 | Queer as Folk | Stuart Alan Jones | 10 episodes |
| 2000 | The Darkling | Jeff Obold | Television film |
| 2000 | Lorna Doone | Carver Doone | Television film |
| 2001 | Dice | Glenn Taylor | Television miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2002 | First Communion Day | Seamus | Television film |
| 2003 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Amyas Crale | Episode: "Five Little Pigs" |
| 2004–2008 | The Wire | Thomas J. "Tommy" Carcetti | 35 episodes |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Jimmy Colby | Episode: "Vigilante" |
| 2005 | The Last Detective | Steve Fallon | Episode: "Willesden Confidential" |
| 2005 | Walk Away and I Stumble | Paul | Television film |
| 2009 | Freefall | Gus | Television film |
| 2010 | Thorne | Phil Hendricks | 6 episodes |
| 2010 | Identity | DI John Bloom | 6 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | Love/Hate | John Boy Power | 10 episodes |
| 2011–present | Game of Thrones | Petyr Baelish | Main role |
| 2011–present | Other Voices | Himself | Presenter |
| 2013 | Mayday | Everett Newcombe | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | Charlie | Charles J. Haughey | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Peaky Blinders | upcoming series |
Music video appearances
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ekki múkk | Sigur Rós[23] |
| 2014 | Valentine | I Draw Slow |
| 2016 | Cameo[24] | Mick Flannery |
Audiobooks
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha | ASIN B0051H6FW4, |
| 1995 | Felicia's Journey | ASIN B000PYA4MA, ASIN B002X7UY36 |
| 1995 | The Barrytown Trilogy: The Commitments | ASIN B002SQCXX6 |
| 1998 | Irish Short Stories | |
| 2010 | The Poetry of Ireland | ASIN B003GQ6S2O |
| 2015 | The Art of War |
Radio
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Last Tycoon | BBC Radio 4 |
Video game
| Year | Title | role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Quantum Break | Paul Serene (voice, likeness, and motion capture performance) |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The Do-It-Yourself Frankenstein Outfit | Robot | Dublin Youth Theatre |
| 1988 | The Wexford Trilogy: A Hand of Stars | Tony | Bush Theatre |
| 1989 | Juno and the Paycock | Soldier | Royal National Theatre |
| 1989 | Blue | Ed Ache / Fred | National Theatre Studio |
| 1989 | The Long Way Round | Albin | Royal National Theatre |
| 1989 | The Water Engine | Bernie | Hampstead Theatre |
| 1990 | Lovers Meeting | Joe Hession | Druid Theatre Company |
| 1991 | The Patriot Game | Pearse | Abbey Theatre |
| 1991 | The Wexford Trilogy: Belfry | Dominic | Bush Theatre |
| 1992 | Drama at Inish | Eddie Twohig | Abbey Theatre |
| 1993 | The Wexford Trilogy | Tony / Dominic | Abbey Theatre |
| 1993 | Marvin's Room | Hank | Hampstead Theatre Comedy Theatre |
| 1994 | The Playboy of the Western World | Christopher Mahon | Almeida Theatre |
| 1995 | Mojo | Skinny | Royal Court Theatre |
| 2000 | The Tempest | Ariel | Almeida Theatre |
| 2001 | Platonov | Platonov | Almeida Theatre |
| 2003 | The Caretaker | Mick | Roundabout Theatre |
| 2005 | Someone Who'll Watch Over Me | Edward | New Ambassadors Theatre |
| 2007 | American Buffalo | Teach | Gate Theatre |
| 2007 | Glengarry Glen Ross | Richard Roma | Apollo Theatre |
| 2015 | The Dead | Sam Wanamaker Playhouse |
Awards and nominations
References
- ↑ "IFTA winners 2012 announced". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ↑ Harris, David (2 February 2016). "Current (Aidan Gillen) and future (Richard E. Grant) Game of Thrones Actors discuss their careers". Winter is Coming. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ↑ Mark Lawson (2 October 2007). "'I don't mind nasty roles'". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ↑ "Aidan Gillen Tony Award". Broadwayworld. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ↑ "Theatre Awards Shortlist Announced". RTÉ. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ↑ "Aidan Gillen – Nominated for TWO IFTA awards". Live Journal. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ↑ Dresdale, Andrea (12 April 2015). "'Game of Thrones' Premiere: What to Expect from Season 5". ABC News. Go.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ↑ "Third series of Love/Hate in development". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ↑ Cox, Greg (24 July 2012). The Dark Knight Rises: The Official Novelization. London: Titan Books. ISBN 978-1-78116-106-7.
- 1 2 Mottram, James (14 September 2013). "Lost soul: Aidan Gillen is taking on an existential crisis in the spiky Mister John". The Independent. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ↑ Broderick, Ryan (January 25, 2017). "Trump Supporters And Neo-Nazis Are Using Secret Chatrooms To Harass Shia LaBeouf". BuzzFeed. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Aidan Gillen has accidentally become part of a bizarre 'alt-right meme'". The Daily Edge. January 29, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Gillen is new Other Voices host". RTÉ. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ↑ "I did warn you not to trust me…". UniversityObserver. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ↑ "Aidan Gillen in BBC thriller Mayday". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ↑ "Sigur Rós – Ekki múkk". Vimeo. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (26 September 2014). "'Game of Thrones' Actor to Play Villain in 'Maze Runner' Sequel (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ↑ "Hot off the Wire". Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ↑ "Winners of the 6th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards". Irish Film and Television Academy. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ↑ Greenstreet, Rosanna (6 May 2017). "Aidan Gillen: ‘My best kiss? Up against a caravan in County Sligo as a teenager’". The Guardian.
- ↑ The Dark Knight Rises novelization
- ↑ "Game of Thrones star takes lead in hard sci-fi 'Ambition' (Wired UK)". Wired.
- ↑ Carrie, Battan (24 September 2012). "Watch: New Sigur Rós Video Starring Aiden Gillen, a.k.a. Mayor Tommy Carcetti From "The Wire"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ↑ Madden, Peter (2016-09-26), CAMEO, retrieved 2017-08-01
- ↑ "MIFF Awards Winners MIFF Tour". Milan International Film Festival Awards.
- ↑ "Empire Hero Award". Empireonline.com. Bauer Consumer Media. 2015. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- ↑ Eliahou, Maya (June 9, 2016). "Teen Choice Awards 2016—Captain America: Civil War Leads Second Wave of Nominations". E! Online. Retrieved June 17, 2016.