Colin Morgan is still 'very much drawn to unsung heroes' 18 years after his breakout role as Merlin. Since his BBC debut as the secret warlock in 2008, Morgan has portrayed brooding detectives, tortured recluses, and whip-smart activists. The theme of giving a voice to the underdog has followed him throughout his career, whether on stage, screen, or as a debut novelist.
Career Highlights
Over the past two decades, Morgan has played singular characters that leave a stark impression. His roles include DS Thomas Anderson opposite Gillian Anderson in The Fall, a journalist in Netflix's The Crown and The Sandman, and a unionist in historical drama The Gray House. During a break from filming in the South of France, Morgan discussed the socio-political undercurrent in his characters. 'I'm very much drawn towards the outsiders, the unsung hero characters, the ones who go on a transformational journey that doesn't necessarily need to be epic and blockbuster style, it can be very quiet and very internal,' he says. He finds these roles 'fascinating, challenging and irresistible'.
Debut Novel: The Ballad of Ronan McCoy
The 'unsung hero' archetype is the beating heart of his debut novel, The Ballad of Ronan McCoy, a coming-of-age tale about two friends, Brendan and Ronan, who must find each other after Ronan suffers a life-altering brain injury. Morgan began writing the novel in 2018, inspired by school-era friendships and the layers of grieving for people who haven't left us. He handwrote the entire first draft in notebooks before typing it up. 'To hit that send button and invite somebody else to meet these people that I had lived with for so long, it was very vulnerable,' he says. He researched brain injuries extensively with help from the Child Brain Injury Trust. 'Hearing people say how they haven't had a novel that would put this subject matter front and centre really spurred me on,' he shares.
Industry Inspirations
Morgan cites filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson as an inspiration for 'enriching, complicated, diversified stories'. He says, 'You don't hit a point and then go: "Cool, that's me, I've done my peak." The peak never seems high enough.' Morgan has worked with acting greats like the late Anthony Head in Merlin, Katherine Parkinson, Gemma Chan in Humans, and Kenneth Branagh on Belfast, who also endorsed his book. He has a tradition of collecting 'one book, one movie, one song' that inspired his co-stars to become storytellers.
Navigating Fame
Despite his large fanbase, Morgan remains private. 'I've never had any social media, I've never had any online presence. I just stick to the thing that I'm good at,' he says. He is touched by fans who are moved by his work. 'Anyone who becomes a fan of you, it probably means you've made them feel something, so yeah, I will never feel really tired of that.'
Thriller Junkie
Morgan acknowledges his draw to 'dark projects' like The Fall, The Killing Kind, The Boy That Never Was, and Dead and Buried. 'I see projects as challenges. If I feel like I could do it standing on my head or with my eyes closed, it's probably the wrong reason to do something,' he says.
Upcoming Role in Trying
His upcoming show, Apple TV's comedy-drama Trying, is a complete 180. He joins the fifth season as a guest star, playing a vital role in the office when Nikki (Esther Smith) starts a new job. 'When I watched the show, I was hooked. I get drawn to these quiet acts of power that are happening every day around us,' he says. He describes the set as 'one of the happiest experiences I've had'.
As for what's next, Morgan says, 'All being well, I'd love to find my feet on a stage soon, so that's very much on my radar at the moment.'
The Ballad Of Ronan McCoy by Colin Morgan (HQ, £16.99) is out June 18. Trying series five returns on Apple TV Plus on July 8, 2026.
