George Blagden
Blagden in 2014
Born
George Paul Blagden

(1989-12-28) 28 December 1989 (age 34)
London, England
Alma materGuildhall School of Music and Drama (2011)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2011–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2019)​
Children1

George Paul Blagden (born 28 December 1989) is an English stage and film actor. He is best known for his role as Louis XIV in the French-produced television series drama Versailles. He also played Grantaire in the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables and Athelstan in the television series Vikings (2013–2016). He has also narrated the Penguin Classics audiobook version of Homer’s The Odyssey and an immersive audiovisual tour for the Circus Maximus in Rome written by Margaret George for the BARDEUM mobile app.[1]

Early life and education

Blagden who was raised near to Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk,[2] began singing at age 13, performing in various choirs and his own rock band.[3] After studying at Old Buckenham Hall School, Suffolk,[2] he was accepted into Oundle School with a drama scholarship,[4] and appeared in the school's Stahl Theatre in such roles as The Baker in Into the Woods and Marc in 'Art'.[5] Also while at Oundle, Blagden became a member of the National Youth Theatre and was selected as one of four students to participate in a masterclass with Sir Ian McKellen.[6] Following his graduation, he studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, from which he graduated in 2011.[7] He has a younger sister, Katie, who is a writer and filmmaker.[2]

Career

In 2011, Blagden received his first acting role as Andy in the feature film After the Dark, which was released in 2014. He has since appeared in Wrath of the Titans, Les Misérables,[2] Vikings, and as the lead character of Louis XIV in the drama series Versailles.[8]

Blagden played the role of PJ in the 2018 revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical comedy, Company, at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End of London.[9]

Blagden co-stars in the upcoming musical film, The Land of Dreams, directed by Nicola Abbatangelo, with shooting underway in October 2019.[10]

Personal life

Blagden married actress Laura Pitt-Pulford on 29 September 2019.[11] The couple have a son, Arlo Peter Blagden born in October 2020.[12]

He is a supporter of Diabetes UK; from 4–6 September 2015, he cycled from London to Paris in under 72 hours and raised nearly £5,000 for the charity.[13]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Wrath of the Titans Soldier No. 1
2012 Les Misérables Grantaire National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2013 After the Dark Andy
2014 Blood Moon Jake Norman
2014 Holding on for a Good Time Fellini Short
2014 The Tap Tap Lady Hugh Short
2015 Blight Fr Carey Short
Winner Best Actor - FilmQuest International Film Festival 2016
2017 No Postage Necessary Sam
2019 How You Look at Me Charlie
2020 The Land of Dreams Armie Post-production[14]
2022 The Gallery Morgan/Dorian Interactive movie
2022 Rubikon Gavin Abbott
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2013–2016 Vikings Athelstan [2] Main cast (seasons 1–3)
Recurring (season 4); 30 episodes
2015–2018 Versailles Louis XIV Leading role [2]
2017 Black Mirror Lenny Episode: "Hang the DJ"
Video game roles
Year Title Role Notes
2022 The Gallery Morgan/Dorian Interactive player

Theatre

Theatre
Year Title Role Notes Location
2016-2017 Platinum Simon Leading role Hampstead Theatre, London
2017 The Pitchfork Disney Presley Stray Leading role Shoreditch Town Hall, London
2018 Tartuffe Damis Main Cast Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
2018 Company PJ Main Cast Gielgud Theatre
2023 White Christmas Bob Leading Role Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Awards

Year Award Category Film Result
2012 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Best Acting by an Ensemble Les Misérables Won
Best Ensemble
San Diego Film Critics Society Best Ensemble Performance Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Ensemble, Motion Picture Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Acting Ensemble
2013 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated

References

  1. ^ "George Blagden". BARDEUM. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Alice-Azania Jarvis (2 June 2016). "Meet George Blagden, the Star of TV's Sexiest new show Versailles". Evening Standard Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023.
  3. ^ "About". George Blagden. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  4. ^ "George Blagden pictures, bio, movies". Pop Tower. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  5. ^ "George Blagden Signs on to Play Grantaire in LES MISERABLES Film". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  6. ^ "News Trinity 2008: Sir Ian Kellen Masterclass". Oundle School. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  7. ^ "George Blagden". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Vikings' Actor George Blagden to Play Louis XIV in 'Versailles". Variety. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  9. ^ "CompanElliott and Producer Chris Harper". Elliott & Harper Productions. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  10. ^ Scarpa, Vittoria (31 October 2019). "Shooting is under way on the musical The Land of Dreams". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Laura Pitt-Pulford on Instagram: "A year ago today I married you @gblagden . It truly was the best day of my life! I still thank the stars every night that we found each…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Laura Pitt-Pulford on Instagram: "So, for the last 9 months I have been pretty busy growing this little fella, who finally made his appearance a week ago. Being pregnant and…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  13. ^ "George Blagden's Cycling Adventure". JustGiving. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  14. ^ "The Land of Dreams". iMDB. Retrieved 29 April 2020.

External links

Authority control databases
Categories