Aidan Turner

Aidan Turner (born 19 June 1983) is an Irish actor. He is best known for his roles as Kíli in the three-part fantasy film The Hobbit and John Mitchell in the supernatural drama series Being Human. Notable television roles include those of Dante Gabriel Rossetti in Desperate Romantics, and Ruairí McGowan in The Clinic. He also portrayed Luke Garroway in the film adaptation of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones in 2013. Turner also portrays Ross Poldark in the 2015 BBC adaptation of The Poldark Novels by Winston Graham.

Early life

Turner was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Eileen, who works in a carpet shop, and Pat Turner, an electrician. After finishing secondary school, Turner briefly worked as an apprentice electrician, alongside his father.

Career

Turner graduated from The Gaiety School of Acting in 2004. After this, he appeared in several theatre plays, including The Plough and the Stars, Romeo and Juliet, and A Cry from Heaven.

Turner's television acting career began in 2007 with a guest appearance on The Tudors. He continued his television career on Desperate Romantics, playing Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Between 2008 and 2009, he appeared in a recurring role as Ruairí McGowan on The Clinic. followed by playing the vampire John Mitchell on the supernatural drama programme Being Human during the first three series.