Colin Morgan

Colin Morgan Trivia and Quotes

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Trivia

  • 2012 Public Appearances:
    -February 11th, 2012: The 9th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTA), Convention Centre Dublin, Ireland.
    -January 31st, 2012: The Daily Show.
    -January 25th, 2012: National Television Awards, O2 Arena, London.
    -January 12th, 2012: Hamlet production starring Michael Sheen at the Young Vic in Southwark/London with Merlin co-star Bradley James.

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  • Colin Morgan has been immortalized in a waxwork figure in character as Merlin made by the team from Madame Tussauds. The wax figure, whichwas created with over 300 measurements and a catalogue of reference shots of Colin Morgan himself,took four months to create and cost £150,000. It will be displayed as part of the Merlin themed attraction 'The Dragon Tower' at Warwick Castle and is part of a £3million investment in the castle by Merlin Entertainments Group.

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  • 2011 Public Appearances:
    -December 20th, 2011: BBC Radio Ulster with Merlin co-star Bradley James.
    -December 19th, 2011: the Andy Potter Show on BBC Radio Derby with Merlin co-star Bradley James.
    -December 19th, 2011: BBC Radio Gloucestershire with Merlin co-star Bradley James.
    -December 19th, 2011: the Jamie Owen and Louise Elliot Show on BBC Radio Wales with Merlin co-star Bradley James.
    -November 25th, 2011: Parked Q&A at the Apollo Cinema, Piccadilly Circus, London, UK.
    -November 20th, 2011: Parked Q&A at the International Filmfestival Mannheim/Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
    -November 19th, 2011: Parked Q&A at the International Filmfestival Mannheim/Heidelberg, Manheim, Germany.
    -November 18th, 2011: Parked Northern Irish premiere at The Takeover Film Festival, Queens Film Theatre, Belfast, UK.
    -November 17th, 2011: As If I Am Not There, Princess Anne Theatre at BAFTA HQ, London.
    -November 16th, 2011: Death Cab For Cutie show, Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, London.
    -November 15th, 2011: The Cure concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, UK.
    -November 7th, 2011: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane, Australia.
    -November 5th-6th, 2011: Supanova Expo, Brisbane, Australia.
    -November 5th, 2011: Ten News, Channel Ten, Australia.
    -November 4th, 2011: The Circle, Channel Ten, Australia
    -November 4th, 2011: Brisbane Botanic Gardens, The Project, Channel Ten, Australia.
    -November 4th, 2011: Sunday Showbiz, Channel Ten, Australia.
    -October 14th, 2011: The Late Late Show, RTE Studios, Dublin, Ireland with Merlin co-stars Eoin Macken and Katie McGrath.
    -October 1st, 2011: BBC Breakfast with Merlin co-stars Adetomiwa Edun, Eoin Macken, Katie McGrath, Rupert Young and Tom Hopper.
    -September 25th, 2011: Something For The Weekend BBC2 with Angel Coulby.
    -September 15th, 2011: London BFI Southbank Merlin Season 4EP1 Preview and Q&A with Angel Coulby, Katie McGrath and Executive Producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy.
    -August 6th, 2011: Merlin wax figure unveiling event at Warwick Castle, Warwick, England.
    -July 24th, 2011: San Diego Comic Con Merlin Panel with Anthony Head, Bradley James and Katie McGrath. 
    -July 9th, 2011: The Pride play at The Crucible, London.
    -July 7th, 2011: Death Cab For Cutie concert at the O2 Academy Brixton, London..
    -July 2nd, 2011: Merlin panel at the Comic Con Expo in Paris with Bradley James, Katie McGrath and show writer Julian Jones.
    -June 25th, 2011: Parked screening, Brussels Film Festival.
    -June 4th, 2011: American Trade play (as audience) at Hampstead Theatre, London.
    -April 9th, 2011: Merlin panel at the Kapow Comic Con, London with Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby and Executive Producer Johnny Capps.
    -March 26th, 2011: Interviewing potential dragonologists for 'The Dragon Tower' event at Warwick Castle, Warwick, England.
    -February 20th, 2011: Island Premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival, Glasgow, UK.

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  • Polls:
    -2011 UK Cult TV 'Sexiest Male'.
    -2010 The Belfast Telegraph '25 Most Eligible Single Males in the Northern Ireland' #6.
    -2010 Geeky Girls love Scifi 'October Man of the Month'.

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  • Charity:
    -2011: Colin collected funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital during the autograph signing session at the Kapow Comic Con Merlin panel, April 9th, London.
    -2010: Colin contributed with a painting from the Merlin Colin and Bradley Quest series to the 2010 BBC Children in Need official auction. It was sold for £620.00
    -2010: Colin contributed with several signed pictures to the 2010 Wamcare (Worldwide Association for ME/CFS Awareness and Research) charity auction which profits are destined to top quality biomedical research including a large share to the Whittemore Peterson Institute and ME Research UK.
    -2010: Colin also donated his signature to StarCards (both individually and together with Bradley James) to support the 2010 Christmas auction, the funds to be destined to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. []
  • On October 27, 2002 at the age of 16 Colin (among 100 other young contestants) auditioned at the Belfast Waterfront Hall for the You're A Star RTÉ programme which was in search for star quality performers. The winner was to receive a record contract and also to represent Ireland at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest. Colin didn't make it. []
  • Before auditioning for the role of Merlin in Merlin, Colin was sent the scenes for the character of Prince Arthur by mistake. He didn't get the whole script so he prepared those assuming they wanted to see him for the role of the prince. It was only right before for the audition that he got the scenes for Merlin so he only had some five minutes to read over them. He ended up getting the role and exhausted all the literature of Arthurian legend and Merlin throughout series one and two. He found it hugely exciting to contribute and give continuation to a legend that has been told throughout the years. []
  • 2010 Public Appearances:
    December 2nd 2010: Parked Premiere at the Torino Film Festival, Torino, Italy.
    September 9th 2010: BBC One Show with Bradley James.
    September 5th 2010: BFI Southbank Merlin Season 3EP1 and Season 3EP2 Preview and Q&A with Merlin main cast and producers.
    July 25th 2010: San Diego Comic Con Merlin Panel with Anthony Head, Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy.
    July 24th 2010: SyFy/EW Party, San Diego.
    May 29th 2010: London MCM Expo Merlin Panel with Angel Coulby, Katie McGrath and Johnny Capps.
    February 26th 2010: Six Degrees of Separation, Old Vic Theatre, London.
    January 26th 2010: The Lovely Bones movie premiere, Savoy Cinema, Dublin. []
  • Since October 2009 Colin Morgan is an official ambassador for the A Night Less Ordinary scheme by which Arts Council England in association with Metro offers free theatre tickets to anyone under 26. []

  • Colin provided with audio commentaries for episode 1x08 The Beginning of the End, episode 1x09 Excalibur and episode 1x10 The Moment of Truth for the Merlin series 1 DVD box set and episode 2x01 The Curse of Cornelius Sigan, episode 2x04 Lancelot and Guinevere, episode 2x08 The Sins of the Father, episode 2x12 The Fires of Idirsholas for the Merlin series 2 DVD box set and episode 4x03 The Wicked Day for the Merlin series 4 DVD box set.

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  • 2009 Public Appearances:
    December 8th 2009: WH Smith book signing, Thurrock Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex with Bradley James.
    December 2nd 2009: The Paul O'Grady Show with Bradley James.
    November 21st 2009: Inside the World of Merlin with Bafta, Barbican Centre, London with Bradley James, Katie McGrath and Merlin crew.
    November 20th 2009: Children In Need appeal with Merlin cast.
    November 12th 2009: Cardiff Xmas Wonderland Switchon with Merlin cast.
    October 30th 2009: Roy Noble BBC Radio Wales with Bradley James.
    October 22nd 2009: A Night Less Ordinary at Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, London.
    September 19th 2009: BBC 1 Breakfast with Bradley James.
    September 19th 2009: Jonathan Ross (BBC Radio 2) with Bradley James.
    September 19th 2009: Vernon Kay (BBC Radio 1) with Bradley James.
    September 18th 2009: BBC Radio 1Xtra with Angel Coulby.
    September 6th 2009: T4 with Bradley James and Katie McGrath.
    September 6th 2009: BFI Merlin S2EP1 Preview and Q&A with Merlin main cast and producers.
    July 11th 2009: Oxegen 2009 with Katie McGrath.
    May 23rd 2009: London MCM Expo Merlin Panel with Merlin young cast members and producer.
    February 20th 2009: GMTV with Bradley James.
    February 14th 2009: Irish Film and Television Awards with Katie McGrath.
    January 21st 2009: Radio Times Cover Party with Bradley James. []

  • 2008 Public Appearances:
    -December 17th, 2008: Paul O'Grady show (panto).
    -November 16th, 2008: Variety Club Awards at Grosvenor Hotel, London.
    -November 14th, 2008: Go Belfast Awards, Europa Hotel, Belfast.
    -November 14th, 2008: Children In Need appeal with Merlin cast.
    -November 9th, 2008: Something for the Weekend BBC2 with Bradley James.
    October 25th, 2008: London MCM Expo Merlin Panel with Merlin cast and crew.
    -November 2008: Clown Doctors appeal.
    -September 2008: Belfast Telegraph.
    -February 2008: Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 1).

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  • 2007 Public Appearances:
    Vernon God Little after party. []
  • Movies:
    Island (The Sea Change) by Elizabeth Mitchell and Brek Taylor as Calum (2010)
    Parked by Darragh Byrne as Cathal (2010) []
  • Television:
    -Mark M. and Mark C.'s short film Ireland's Greatest Chef.
    -Catherine Tate Christmas Special by Gordon Anderson as John Leary (2007)
    -Doctor Who by Alice Troughton as Jethro (2008)
    -Doctor Who Confidential as himself (2008)
    -Children in Need 2008 as Merlin (2008)
    -Children in Need 2009 as Merlin (2009)
    -Merlin Secrets and Magic as himself (2009)
    -Children in Need 2010 as himself/Merlin (2010)
    -Merlin as Merlin (2008-2010) []

  • Stage:
    -Our Private Life by Lyndsey Turner as Carlos (Royal Court Theatre, 2011)
    -A Prayer For My Daughter by Dominic Hill as Jimmy (Young Vic Theatre)
    -All About My Mother by Tom Cairns as Esteban (Old Vic Theatre)
    -Vernon God Little by Rufus Norris as Vernon Little (Young Vic Theatre)
    -Bite Of The Night by Hugh Hodgart as First Youth/Chorus (RSAMD - The Chandler Theatre, Glasgow).
    -God The Game Show by Iain Heggie as Stewart (RSAMD)
    -Vassa by Katya Kamotskaia as Semvon (RSAMD)
    -Last Supper by Hugh Hodgart as Young Man/Chorus (RSAMD)
    -Plasticine by Mark Saunders as Groom/Grandmother (RSAMD)
    -The Tempest by Joyce Deans and Ros Steen as Ferdinand (RSAMD)
    -The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Mark Saunders as Singer Arkadj Tsheidse (RSAMD)
    -Jack And The Beanstalk by Alasclair Hawthorn as Archie (RSAMD)

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  • Colin was not allowed to stay in the sun and get a tan for his role of Merlin in Merlin. He also had to wear sunblock factor 50.

    Since Colin is allergic to tomatoes, a great deal of money was spent to make fake fruit to throw at him in Merlin. However, it looked way too fake so in the end they just went with rotten tomatoes, which exploded nicely. Fake cream was applied to his face and hair in those scenes where he had to be depicted pelted with them. []
  • Radio:
    -Kim Newman's Cry Babies by Neil Gardner as Roger on BBC Radio 4, March 2009. []

  • Favourites:
    -Actor: Sean Penn, Paul Newman, Terry Gilliam.
    -Director: Tim Burton, Sam Mendes.
    -Tv shows: Heroes, Doctor Who, Fringe, True Blood, Six Feet Under.
    -Movies: The Goonies, Jason and the Argonauts, Willow, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Big Fish, Avatar, Indiana Jones.
    -Animation movie: Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle.
    -Bands: Bloc Party, Death Cab For A Cutie, Kings of Leon, The Cure.
    -Writers / Books: Terry Pratchett, Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Yann Martel's The Life Of Pi and Bone comic book series.
    -Arthurian legend text: The Mary Stewart trilogy.
    -Colour: Green.
    -Animal: Beaver.
    -Girl's name: Zoe.
    -Place to go on holidays: Ireland (home).
    -Subjects at school: Music and English.
    -Christmas tradition: Watch A Muppet Christmas Carol and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

    Likes: Thai food, biscuits, cereals, herbal tea, peanut butter.
    Anime, escapism.
    Rollercoasters.

    Dislikes: Crowds. Regular tea. Ice-cream.

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  • Skills:
    -Colin is an accomplished Bodhran (Irish drum) player.
    -He is a strong swimmer and has a BAF 1 Star Stage Combat Certificate.
    -Colin has a great ear for accents. Apart from his native Northern Irish one, he can do RP English and American English. []

  • Awards:
    -2011 Virgin Media TV Award in the category of Best Actor for his role of Merlin in Merlin.
    -2010 Nov 12th Belfast Metropolitan College distinction for his contribution to the arts.
    -2008 Variety Club Showbiz Award in the category of Caron Keating Outstanding New Talent for his role of Merlin in Merlin.

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  • Education:
    -Saints and Scholars Primary School, Armagh.
    -Dungannon Integrated, Armagh where he achieved the Denis Rooney Associates Cup Award as the best overall student of the academic year.
    -National Diploma in Performing Arts at the Belfast Institute of Further & Higher Education in 2004.
    -Graduated from RSAMD (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama), Glasgow in 2007.

    Landing a role in Vernon God Little when he hadn't yet graduated from RSAMD counted towards his final mark. []

  • Personal:
    -Colin is 5'11" (1.82 m), has blue eyes and dark hair. He is right handed.
    -He is a vegetarian, lactose intolerant and allergic to all dairy products.
    -He doesn't drink while performing because alcohol goes rather easily to his head.
    -Colin is not a big internet user.

    -Colin's mother, Bernie, is a nurse and his father, Bernard, is a painter and decorator. He has a 3 year older brother (born in July 1983) called Neil (who has appeared as an extra in several Merlin episodes) and who works in Dublin as a funeral director.

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  • Nominations:
    -2012 TV Choice Awards in the category of Best Actor for his role of Merlin in Merlin.
    -2011 Virgin Media TV Award in the category of Best Actor for his role of Merlin in Merlin.
    -2011 TV Choice Awards in the category of Best Actor for his role of Merlin in Merlin.
    -2011 51st Monte Carlo Television Festival in the category of Outstanding Actors/Drama for his role of Merlin in Merlin, Monaco.
    -2010 National TV Awards, in the category of Best Drama Performance for his role of Merlin in Merlin.
    -2010 TV Choice Awards in the category of Best Actor for his role of Merlin in Merlin.
    -2010 50th Monte Carlo Television Festival in the category of Outstanding Actors/Drama for his role of Merlin in Merlin, Monaco.
    -2009 49th Monte Carlo Television Festival in the category of Best Actor for his role of Merlin in Merlin, Monaco.
    -2009 Seoul International Drama Awards in the category of Best Actor for his role of Merlin in Merlin.
    -NTA (National Television Awards) in the category of Best Drama Performance for his role of Merlin in Merlin.
    -Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards in the category of Newcomer of the Year for his stage roles in Vernon God Little and All About My Mother.

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  • Colin, together with Merlin co-star Bradley James, recorded a video diaries with interviews and behind the scenes material during the filming of season 1. It was incorporated as extra material in the DVD release. []
  • During the stage play A Prayer For My Daughter, Colin appeared naked on stage. []
  • Colin is represented by United Agents Limited. []
  • Colin's likeness appears in the Doctor Who 'Battles In Time' trading card game: Jethro Cane, his character from the episode Midnight is featured on card 836 of the deck (and card 11 of the Devastator deck).

    Colin also appears in the Merlin collectible cards album. []
  • Colin has recorded special scenes for the Merlin website where he shows how to perform certain magic tricks. Colin used a double, Chris Cox, for the tricks.

    He also recorded an scene for the BBC Merlin cinema trailer. []
  • Whilst filming the Doctor Who episode Midnight, Colin kept a video diary (which can be viewed on the official website). []

Quotes

  • Colin Morgan: (On his wax statue) Little did I think that when I visited Madame Tussauds as a kid that I would have the honour of having the same fantastic team making a wax figure of myself. It's truly amazing and I can't praise their hard work enough in creating such a brilliant life-like me.

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  • Colin Morgan: (About his audition for You're A Star) "I was turned down but it's not the end of the world. I'm going to try and make it on stage one day." []
  • Colin Morgan: (About the difference between tv and stage) The big difference I think between tv and stage is definitely the immediate buzz that you get. And that's not just as an actor, as an audience member you're getting the chance to have this kind of two-way process where the actors and the audience are experiencing the same thing. With tv you often have to wait months and months down the line to actually get the pay-off. Whereas with theatre it's a very immediate thing. []
  • Colin Morgan: (About his earliest memory from theatre) Probably my first memory of theatre, the first one I guess that had an impact on me was when I saw my very first panto with my Primary School. I think just going there and experience that for the first time, being so young, it's something that's actually stuck with me right up until now. And to think back and to sort of remember that magic and that first little hint of it was brilliant. []
  • Colin Morgan: (About changing his Irish accent for his role in Merlin) I was using my own accent for all the auditions and at the last stage they were like, 'Well, we want to try you with an English accent'. And I think it was a good decision in the end, because I think it's quite a bold decision already to do a show about a young Merlin, and a young Arthur, so making Merlin from Northern Ireland as well was probably pushing the boat out a bit far. - Belfast Telegraph, September 26 2009. []
  • Colin Morgan: (About his roots keeping him grounded) I haven't been back home for a while but after Merlin is finished filming in three weeks time I intend to come over to see my family. The great thing about the people back home is that you'll never get above yourself. Not when you have people shouting 'Merlin, tell us your secret' at you in the street. - Belfast Telegraph, September 26 2009. []
  • Colin Morgan: (About Merlin) I think Merlin is so popular because it mixes humour and charm. The kids like the slapstick, while the darker undercurrents appeal to the adults. There are also a lot of morals in there too about friendship and loyalty. - Belfast Telegraph, September 26 2009. []
  • Colin Morgan: (About working with Mackenzie Crook in Merlin) Mackenzie was brilliant to work with. When we were filming our close-ups, he would throw in a few things that he hadn't done before, just to get me more annoyed with his character. - Belfast Telegraph, September 26 2009. []
  • Colin Morgan: (About Merlin series 2) We're delighted to be back, bigger and bolder than before. This series we have some great guest stars and the special effects are pretty amazing too. And yes, there is a love interest for Merlin, which is about time too, but that's all I can say. I can't give too much away about it, but there is some romance in line for him. - Belfast Telegraph, September 26 2009. []
  • Colin Morgan: (about some risky scenes he's filmed without a stunt in Merlin) During filming I was asked to do some pretty outrageous stuff. Last week, for instance, I had to run full pelt into a freezing cold lake to rescue Arthur in the rain. []
  • Colin Morgan: (about his character in Merlin) When he [Merlin] first enters Camelot, Merlin is a loose cannon. He has this natural ability which he is aware of. He has the ability to do magic but he can't control it, it just happens. He believes he will be quite safe in that environment, that he will able to use his powers in a free way. But when he enters Camelot he sees someone die for using magic so it becomes clear that using his God-given gift is a no go. And that's a big shock to him. A lot of the story deals with Merlin keeping his power a secret, even as he uses it to deal with situations. []
  • Colin Morgan: (about his early inclination to become an actor) From when I was really young one of the first things I did was to perform and do shows. It was like a natural instinct. []
  • Colin Morgan: (upon learning he had been cast as Merlin) When they told me I'd been cast I was ridiculously delighted. I ran around my flat screaming. []
  • Colin Morgan: (on almost quitting acting): I was planning on travelling but all of my friends were auditioning for something so I thought I'd do it for the experience. []
  • Colin Morgan: (on the best and worst things about living in London) I love that entertainment scene. You can do anything in this city. You can't get bored. I don't like the crowds though. I get really frustrated with them. But the stupid thing is, everyone in the crowd is frustrated. []
  • Colin Morgan: Even when I was really young I wanted to perform and do shows. I also had this fascination with magic. I was doing magic tricks when I was three. If I ever saw magic on television I would say: 'I want that. That's what I want from Santa Claus'. So the cupboard in my bedroom was full of boxes of magic tricks, cups and balls, cards and foam rabbits, all sorts of stuff. []
  • Colin Morgan: (on Merlin) I think when we started, I knew as much about the legend as anybody. The basic sword-and-stone story, stuff like that, and of course everyone has this image of Merlin being this old guy with a beard! I've since been reading up quite a lot on Arthurian legend and there's quite a big gap missing in Merlin's life, the time when he was growing up. Why wasn't that documented? This show explores one possibility. []
  • Colin Morgan: (on his similarities with Merlin) I'm extremely enthusiastic and Merlin is like that. He gets involved in every challenge and always gives 100 per cent. []
  • Colin Morgan: One of the most important things is to remind yourself of where you are from and be thankful. I don't for a second take anything for granted. That's a good way to start your day. []
  • Colin Morgan: Screen work is more unnerving, because the end result is so far down the line; you're never quite sure you've got it completely right. []
  • Colin Morgan: I'd like to see what it's like to be inside the head of Tim Burton. The guy just fascinates me. I'm a fan of most of his films and also his book, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy. He has such an interesting perspective on things. []
  • Colin Morgan: My dad always says be nice to the people on the way up because you'll need them on the way down. []

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