--- name: "Richard Armitage" canonical: "https://film.one/person/richard-armitage" roles: ["Actor"] born: "22 August 1971" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 68 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-17T15:47:02.337327+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Richard Armitage Actor. Born 22 August 1971 in Leicester, England, UK. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 22 August 1971, Leicester, England, UK - **Active:** 1999–2004 - **Also known as:** Richard Crispin Armitage - **Average Fi1m score:** 68, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 52 (1), 2000s 83 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Armitage_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181806, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035514/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30315 ## Streaming the US now - **Apple TV:** [*North & South*](https://film.one/tv/north-and-south.md) (83) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Richard Armitage > Richard Armitage makes stern men interesting through small shifts in manner. We value the restraint, particularly in *North & South*, though good dialogue and a challenging partner matter more than another opportunity to brood. In *North & South* (2004), Richard Armitage's John Thornton listens as though accepting a point might cost him something. Brian Percival's adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell gives him sharp dialogue and a partner prepared to stand her ground. Daniela Denby-Ashe's Margaret Hale is firm enough to make easy charm beside the point. Armitage allows small changes in Thornton's manner to count, without asking us to find a hidden significance in every silence. We rate the performance because he makes the effort of understanding another person worth watching. We were moved by the way he and Denby-Ashe listen to one another, because both make taking another person's words seriously look difficult. Their exchanges remain prickly, and the romance gains from our sense that agreement will require work. The class divisions also matter here, giving Thornton's sternness a context beyond the familiar appeal of a difficult man. The pacing occasionally drags, but there is enough in the dialogue and the acting to reward patience. Thornton was his television breakthrough, followed by Guy of Gisborne in *Robin Hood* (2006–2009) and Lucas North in *Spooks* (2008–2010). International recognition came through Peter Jackson's *Hobbit* trilogy (2012–2014), beginning with his Thorin Oakenshield in *The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey* (2012). These parts sit within a recurring pattern of casting him as forceful men who are less sure of themselves than they seem. He has since moved between film, television series and voice work. The settings change more readily than the expectation that he will bring some vulnerability to a stern face. The risk with such casting is that brooding becomes enough, with the script leaving him to supply whatever complication has not been written. We prefer him with another actor who has the dialogue and determination to challenge him. Denby-Ashe provides that in *North & South*, and their scenes are the strongest reason to start there. For his next stern leading man, we would welcome someone as unwilling to indulge him as Margaret Hale. ## Biography Richard Armitage is an English actor, also credited as Richard Crispin Armitage. He was born on 22 August 1971 in Huncote, Leicestershire. He attended Pattison College in Coventry and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). After early work in musical and classical theatre, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Armitage gained notice for his role as John Standring in the 2002 BBC miniseries *Sparkhouse*. He achieved wider recognition in the UK with his leading performance as John Thornton in the 2004 BBC adaptation of *North & South*. Subsequent television roles include Guy of Gisborne in *Robin Hood* (2006–2009) and Lucas North in *Spooks* (2008–2010). He played Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson's *The Hobbit* film trilogy (2012–2014) and has appeared in other films and series such as *Captain America: The First Avenger* (2011) and *Hannibal* (2013–2015). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *North & South* (2004), Fi1m 83, as John Thornton — [page](https://film.one/tv/north-and-south.md) - *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* (1999), Fi1m 52, as Tonra — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace.md) ## Complete filmography (59) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *One Step Beyond: A Journey to Mars* (2025), as Narrator - *Missing You* (2025), series, as Ellis Stagger - *Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft* (2024), series, as Charles Devereaux (voice) - *Red Eye* (2024), series, as Dr. Matthew Nolan - *Fool Me Once* (2024), series, as Joe Burkett - *The Boy in the Woods* (2023), as Jasko - *Obsession* (2023), series, as William Farrow - *The Man from Rome* (2022), as Father Quart - *Stay Close* (2021), series, as Ray Levine - *Space Sweepers* (2021), as James Sullivan / The CEO of UTS - *Uncle Vanya* (2020), as Astrov - *The Stranger* (2020), series, as Adam Price - *The Lodge* (2020), as Richard - *My Zoe* (2019), as James Lewis - *Ocean's Eight* (2018), as Claude Becker - *I Am Urban* (2018), as Chop - *Sleepwalker* (2017), as Dr. Scott White - *Castlevania* (2017), series, as Trevor Belmont (voice) - *Pilgrimage* (2017), as Raymond De Merville - *Brain on Fire* (2017), as Tom Cahalan - *Berlin Station* (2016), series, as Daniel Miller - *Alice Through the Looking Glass* (2016), as King Oleron - *The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies* (2014), as Thorin Oakenshield - *The Crucible* (2014), as John Proctor - *Into the Storm* (2014), as Gary Morris - *The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug* (2013), as Thorin Oakenshield - *Hannibal* (2013), series, as Francis Dolarhyde — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/hannibal-2013.md) - *The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey* (2012), as Thorin Oakenshield - *Captain America: The First Avenger* (2011), as Heinz Kruger - *Strike Back* (2010), series, as John Porter - *Leopards of Dead Tree Island* (2010), as Narrator - *Moving On* (2009), series, as John Mulligan - *The Great Sperm Race* (2009), as Narrator (Voice) - *Inspector George Gently* (2008), series, Acting - *Miss Marie Lloyd: Queen of the Music Hall* (2007), as Percy Courtenay - *Robin Hood* (2006), series, as Sir Guy of Gisbourne - *The Impressionists* (2006), series, as Claude Monet - *ShakespeaRe-Told: Macbeth* (2005), as Peter Macduff - *ShakespeaRe-Told* (2005), series, Acting - *The Golden Hour* (2005), series, as Dr. Alec Track - *Malice Aforethought* (2005), series, as William Chatford - *Frozen* (2005), as Steven - *North & South* (2004), series, as John Thornton — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/north-and-south.md) - *Between The Sheets* (2003), series, as Paul Andrews - *Ultimate Force* (2002), series, as Capt. Ian Macalwain - *Sparkhouse* (2002), series, as John Standring - *Spooks* (2002), series, as Lucas North, Armed Police Officer - *The Inspector Lynley Mysteries* (2002), series, as Philip Turner - *Macbeth* (2001), as Angus - *Cleopatra* (1999), series, as Epiphanes - *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* (1999), as Tonra — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace.md) - *This Year's Love* (1999), as Smug Man at Party - *Cold Feet* (1998), series, as Lee - *The Vicar of Dibley* (1994), series, as Harry Kennedy — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-vicar-of-dibley.md) - *Casualty* (1986), series, as Craig Parker - *Natural World* (1983), series, as Narrator - *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Astov - *Winter*, series, as Dr Ethan Winter - *Now & Then*, as Chris ## Gallery - ![Richard Armitage](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-3156363ba42f.jpg) Richard Armitage — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Richard_Armitage_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Richard_Armitage_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Richard Armitage, New York City, December 2012](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-db37a6b1b988.jpg) Richard Armitage, New York City, December 2012 — CamBear, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Armitage_New_York_December_2012.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Drew McWeeny, Richard Armitage and Max Deacon speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for "Into the Storm", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Ple](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-99b6526e5b64.jpg) Drew McWeeny, Richard Armitage and Max Deacon speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for "Into the Storm", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Ple — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Drew_McWeeny%2C_Richard_Armitage_%26_Max_Deacon_%2813947956784%29.jpg/1280px-Drew_McWeeny%2C_Richard_Armitage_%26_Max_Deacon_%2813947956784%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Richard Armitage, Max Deacon, Jeremy Sumpter and Arlen Escarpeta speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for "Into the Storm", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anahe](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-203638a7a1a2.jpg) Richard Armitage, Max Deacon, Jeremy Sumpter and Arlen Escarpeta speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for "Into the Storm", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anahe — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Richard_Armitage%2C_Max_Deacon%2C_Jeremy_Sumpter_%26_Arlen_Escarpeta_%2813947699395%29.jpg/1280px-Richard_Armitage%2C_Max_Deacon%2C_Jeremy_Sumpter_%26_Arlen_Escarpeta_%2813947699395%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Richard Armitage](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-8d121fbfb86e.jpg) Richard Armitage — Image via TMDB - ![Richard Armitage](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-99802e92d336.jpg) Richard Armitage — Image via TMDB - ![Richard Armitage](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-44a5b7962adc.jpg) Richard Armitage — Image via TMDB - ![Richard Armitage and Max Deacon speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for "Into the Storm", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute ](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-0b1cca30c8c2.jpg) Richard Armitage and Max Deacon speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for "Into the Storm", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Richard_Armitage_%26_Max_Deacon_%2813924664981%29.jpg/1280px-Richard_Armitage_%26_Max_Deacon_%2813924664981%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Richard Armitage speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for "Into the Storm", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmor](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-38af9dae468e.jpg) Richard Armitage speaking at the 2014 WonderCon, for "Into the Storm", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to Gage Skidmor — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Richard_Armitage_%2813924413101%29.jpg/1280px-Richard_Armitage_%2813924413101%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Richard Armitage](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-7467ced121fa.jpg) Richard Armitage — Image via TMDB - ![Richard Armitage](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-5d0c974b28f8.jpg) Richard Armitage — Image via TMDB - ![Richard Armitage](https://film.one/media/person/416021/gallery-efe76e558a8b.jpg) Richard Armitage — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/richard-armitage