Arthur Darvill

For a young British actor whose major roles tended towards classic English theatre, acting in a campy sci-fi television series might have seemed surreal. But when the show is the rebooted "Doctor Who" (BBC 2005- ) and you portray one of The Doctor's longest-running companions, it can mark you for life. While Arthur Darvill's role as Rory Williams in the long running British television series may have been pivotal in his life, it was by no means his only accomplishment. But Rory's story as "the last centurion" will probably always remain his most well known role.

A West Midlands boy, Arthur was born in Birmingham in 1982 to very creative parents. His mother was an actress and puppeteer who traveled the world performing, and his father was a musician who played Hammond organ for such well known acts as soul singer Edwin Starr and '80s R&B-pop trio Fine Young Cannibals. But theatre was always his passion, revealed when he joined his first theatre group at the young age of ten. By the time he had completed school, he set out to London with a couple of friends. He trained at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival early in his career.

It was during his 2007 appearance in the Vaudeville Theatre's production of "Swimming with Sharks" that he met "Doctor Who" actor Matt Smith. That show gained Arthur a London Newcomer Award nomination and a friend for life. The following year Arthur made his television debut in the British crime drama "He Kills Coppers" (BBC 2008). Arthur also was a musician and composer, writing scores for several plays including Che Walker's "The Frontline," which opened at The Globe in 2008.

But by far the biggest change came when Arthur was cast alongside his old friend Matt Smith in the British sci-fi adventure "Doctor Who" (BBC 2005- ). One of the traditions of the show is that The Doctor always has a revolving cast of companions. Arthur was with the show for three seasons, from 2010 to 2013. His role as Rory Williams was the longest-running companion at the time, along with Karen Gillan's Amy Pond. The couple proved to be among the most popular companions for the show.

In addition to the television work, he continued to write music for theatre and played sporadically with the band Edmund. In 2013 Arthur left "Doctor Who" and moved on to portray secondary characters in several British television shows including tormented Reverend Paul Coates in the mystery "Broadchurch" (ITV 2013) and Henry Stafford in the historical drama "The White Queen" (BBC 2013).