James McArdle

James McArdle's previous theatre works include David Hare's adaptation of Young Chekhov's Platanov and Ivanov at the National Theatre for which he won the Ian Charleson Award and was nominated in the leading actor category at the Evening Standard Theatre awards alongside a shortlist including Sir Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes and Sir Ian McKellen (The Telegraph). Garnering exceptional reviews across the board for his role of Iothario 'Platanov', Paul Taylor (the Independent) cites James to be "the most stunningly gifted performer to have emerged since the advent of Eddie (Redmayne)" in the Rylance era. Prior to this, James received universal acclaim for his title role in James I: The Key Will Keep The Lock, again at the National Theatre, a co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland and Edinburgh International Festival of three new plays about the 15th Century Scottish Kings. James' further credits for theatre include Macbeth at the Globe, Spur Of The Moment at the Royal Court, The Heart Of Robin Hood for the RSC and a further leading role in the universally acclaimed West End production of Chariots Of Fire. This summer James starred in the heartbreaking, 2 part drama for BBC2 from novelist Patrick Gale, Man In An Orange Shirt, directed by Michael Samuels. Further television credits include Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated The Worricker Trilogy for BBC with Ralph Fiennes and Bill Nighy, the multi-award-winning Appropriate Adult alongside Dominic West and Emily Watson, and the acclaimed "New Worlds" for Channel 4. Straight after finishing his run in Angels in America, James went on to shoot a starring role in The Working Title feature film, Mary Queen Of Scots, directed by Josie Rourke, with Saorise Ronan as Mary Stuart. James plays her half-brother, The Earl of Moray. Further feature credits include Michael Winterbottom's critically acclaimed On The Road which premiered at Berlinale 2017, The Chamber alongside Johannes Kuhnke which premiered at the LFF 2016 as well as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Private Peaceful and Yann Demange's 71.