Aidan McArdle


Aidan McArdle is an Irish character actor. He is known for being a series regular in shows such as Beautiful People, Garrow's Law, and Mr Selfridge.

Early life and education

Aidan McArdle was born in Dublin.
He attended Terenure College, later studying for an arts degree at University College Dublin. He went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.

Career

Theatre

McArdle's work with the Royal Shakespeare Company includes the title role in Richard III and the role of Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. He also appeared in the title role of a stage adaptation of John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany by Simon Bent at London's Royal National Theatre in 2002, along with the role of Joseph Surface in Deborah Warner's 2011 The School for Scandal at the Barbican Centre.

Film

His first foray into the Hollywood film industry was as Slannen, an elf who secretly aspires to be a lawyer, in the 2004 movie Ella Enchanted.

Television

McArdle is well known for his numerous television roles, the majority of which are period roles. He played a number of roles in biographical TV films. These roles include Dudley Moore in the 2004 television movie Not Only But Always; Albert Einstein in the 2005 biography Einstein's Big Idea ; and Igor Stravinsky in the 2005 production Riot at the Rite.
In 2009 he appeared as a supporting character, Jewish anarchist Saul Landau, in an episode of the BBC TV series Casualty 1909.
McArdle starred in Garrow's Law as John Silvester, and in the comedy television series Beautiful People as Andy Doonan. In the British period drama Mr Selfridge about the founder of the department store Selfridges, he played Lord Loxley, who becomes an arch-enemy to Harry Selfridge. Another prominent role was as a defence lawyer in The Fall.
From 2022, he appeared in the ITV series Ridley.

Personal life

McArdle married actress Aislín McGuckin and they have three children. They later divorced.
He is a cousin of Steve Coogan.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
2002CasualtyJames O'HearneTV series
2002Any Time NowNedser FitzgibbonTV series
2004JudasJohn the BaptistTV movie
2004Ella EnchantedSlannen
2004No AngelsConor MartinTV series
2004Not Only But AlwaysDudley MooreTV movie
2005Footprints in the SnowSeamusTV movie
2005NovaAlbert EinsteinTV documentary
2005Riot at the RiteIgor StravinskyTV movie
2005All About GeorgeDaveTV series
2005Perfect DayPeteTV movie
2006Agatha Christie's MarpleHugh HornbeamTV movie “Sleeping Murder”
2006Comedy LabAiden McCabeTV series
2006AfterlifeMartinTV series
2006Jane EyreJohn EshtonTV mini-series
2006Perfect Day: The Millennium PeteTV movie
2007The Afternoon PlayDr. Max FreemanTV series
2007GreenStuartTV movie
2007Heavenly SwordVoiceVideo Game
2008The DuchessRichard Sheridan
2008Me and Orson WellesMartin Gabel
2008Secret Diary of a Call GirlOfficer Manager MikeTV series
2008–2009Beautiful PeopleAndy DoonanTV series
2009Morris: A Life with Bells OnJeremy – The Producer
2009Casualty 1909Saul LandauTV series
2009–2011Garrow's LawSilvesterTV series
2011Late BloomersJamesFilm
2012MetamorphosisThe First Lodger
2013Agatha Christie's PoirotStephen NortonTV series
2013The MillJohn DohertyTV series
2013The BorderlandsFather Mark AmidonFilm
2014–2015Mr SelfridgeLord LoxleyTV series
2015Clean BreakDesmond RaneTV series
2015Wifey ReduxMr. PrendergrastFilm Short
2016The FallSean HealyTV series
2016-2017MaigretJudge ComeliauTV series
2018Black '47CroninFilm
2019Strike Back: RevolutionConnor RyanTV series
2019The Professor and the MadmanDefense Attorney ClarkeFilm
2019Born a KingHumphrey BowmanFilm
2019The Trial of Christine KeelerRoger HollisBBC TV mini series
2019EndeavourDr. Jasper NicholsonTV Series
2020Miss Scarlet and The DukeAlfred WintersTV Series
2021The IrregularsInspector LestradeTV series
2022RidleyMichael FlanneryTV series
2022Tell Me EverythingJohnTV series
2023Father BrownHarry GroverTV series
2024Einstein and the BombAlbert EinsteinTV Movie
2024ShowtrialPatrick NorrisTV series, 4 episodes
2025BergeracPete BenedictTV series, 6 episodes
2025Sherlock & DaughterChief Inspector WhitlockTV series, series regular