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We first saw the young Armagh actor when he landed the lead role in BBC’s ‘The Adventures of Merlin’. His excellent performance as a Dublin drug addict in Darragh Byrne’s fine drama, ‘Parked’, bodes well for the future.
HE’S better known as the young man with magic in his fingertips but there was no trick Colin Morgan could pull off to rescue himself when he became stranded on a country road in a snowstorm on the Hebridean island of Mull.
The actor, who has charmed audiences with his boyish portrayal of fabled magician Merlin on the popular BBC1 family-fantasy series for the last three years, instead had to conjure up something altogether more human – the ability to just grin and bear it.
Colin was being driven round the island, where he was filming a new Scottish movie, by an enthusiastic local when they were trapped in a freak snowstorm, uncommon on the island normally warmed by the Gulf stream.
But rather than complaining, the likeable 25-year-old saw his midwinter misfortune as an opportunity to further develop his latest character – an eccentric young man whose head is filled with tales of Hebridean whimsy.
He said: “They rarely get snow on Mull but when we were filming it was sub zero and we got snow. It was beautiful but I was on a tour of the island with a guy and we got stranded. The car was stuck. We couldn’t get it out.
And Merlin, obviously. You’ve gotten really very successful in a very short amount of time.
Yeah, it’s been crazy. I feel hugely lucky to have had these opportunities come my way, because obviously they don’t have to. And to work hard on it and get the chance to sort of prove yourself, and to pursue your passion — I mean, for me, acting is a passion and it’s something I’ve wanted to do all my life. And now to get the chance to do that, I feel hugely honored daily, and I’m so grateful for it. And it’s great as well to get some variety with Merlin as well as the other projects coming up.
Yeah, it’s nice to play a junkie [in Parked] and then play a boy wizard on TV.
[laughs] Exactly, yeah! It’s good to get the variety and it’s great because we’ve just had the premiere of Parked [at the Torino Film Festival].
What’s the weirdest part of getting so successful?
It’s weird because, um, successful is a weird word, in a way, because I guess successful kind of implies that I’ve maybe achieved something or reached something.
I think it’s safe to say you’ve achieved something.
Yeah, well, I definitely have. I think acting and the process of it is a constant thing, and I’m always … I think you can always do better, no matter what you do. But in terms of how quickly this has happened and the sort of recognition that comes with doing a TV show and being an actor, it’s just … yeah, it takes a lot of getting used to, and it’s hugely gratifying to see that you spend so much time on a show and spend a lot of work on it, and people have said some lovely, lovely things. And the fans … I just got through a whole chunk of fan letters this week.
There must be a very large backlog.
Oh there was, yeah, I literally sat in my house for three days going through and replying to everybody. There’s quite a few going out to the States there, so hopefully people will be quite happy. I was trying to get it done before Christmas.
Merlin producer Julian Murphy has revealed that discussions are underway regarding a fifth series of the show.
It was announced last month that the fantasy drama would be returning for a 10-part fourth series in 2012.
Speaking to SFX about the reduced episode count, Murphy said: “It was brutally about money. Merlin is an expensive show… and what we are not prepared to do is cut its budget or production values. The BBC has had a really tough [financial] hit.”
However, he added: “We are now discussing the fifth series with the BBC, and I think [the 2011 break] potentially preserves the programme for longer. There is [also] talk of specials [and other] ways we can fill in the gap, but these are tough times for British broadcasters.”
The showrunner also hinted that the final episode of the show’s third series would contain “three or four absolutely iconic moments”.
“The last two are very special episodes because probably there are more crucial moments from the legend in them than in any other,” he teased. “The changes that happen in [episodes] 12 and 13… set up the direction that series four is going in. You get a good glimpse of the future.”
What have been some of your highlights from series three?
“Definitely one of the biggest highlights for me was having Warwick Davis work on the show. I’m a huge Willow fan, so it was great to have him on it. There’s also some pretty iconic moments that happen in the third series, but are still to come in the final two episodes. Obviously I’m aware of the Arthurian legends and I’ve read lots about them, but to see those iconic images being recreated was definitely a huge highlight as well. Of course, all the locations that we get to go to are brilliant. There were some new ones we visited this year which were just stunning. There’s loads of highlights, but that’s all I can think of at the moment!”
Is it exciting for you as the show introduces more elements from the legends, such as the knights of the round table?
“Totally. When I first started, throughout series one and two, I exhausted all the literature of Arthurian legend and Merlin. To be so aware of it and be working in that world, then seeing it all materialise, knowing that it’s so rooted in history and that you’re continuing this legend that’s been retold throughout the years, is brilliant. It’s hugely exciting. I haven’t become complacent at all. I still act like a bit of a geek when I see it all happening!”
How was it wearing the make-up for episode ten when you were disguised as the old wizard?
“Brilliant. It was really good to get a chance to do something completely different and play a different character. I got a chance to have a bit of fun with that. The first time we put the make-up on, it took a little over five hours. Keeping it on all day, your face does feel a bit fatigued! But it’s fun experimenting with it and seeing what you can get away with, knowing that it’s not your face. Although I enjoyed every single second of it, it did feel good to have it peeled off at the end of the day!”
Shot on location in Dublin, Ripple World Pictures’ latest feature film PARKED (directed by Darragh Byrne) is due to premier this coming December ..check back for more updates soon.
The Island team are spread throughout the World. Los Angeles co-producer Steph Meurer is busy conferencing our new North American reps Traction Media (HALF NELSON, HARD CANDY) whilst Amy travels to Mipcom in Cannes to discuss future slates and Elizabeth works from Istanbul after a month long documentary producing job throughout Europe. Brek and Clare are keeping the home fires burning, working with Faith at Soda for a cover image for the French edition of the novel and putting the finishing touches to the website! Meanwhile, a cast and crew screening is finally being planned for early November.
“I think it’s important to put a 100 per cent into everything and find new ways to make it believable,” adds the 24-year-old, who hails from Northern Ireland.
As a wizard in training, Merlin spends a lot of time casting spells but Morgan says it’s only now he’s getting to grips with the complicated pronunciation.
“When we first started out it was a bit daunting,” he says. “It’s great because they’re in genuine old English so whenever I get the gobbledegook,” he says, referring to the script, “I find out the meaning, and then the phonetic pronunciation. So when I say the spells, I genuinely know what they mean.”
He has no idea how his magical gestures will look on-screen when the special effects are added, but he says it’s “no excuse not to go for it”.
“You have to not feel silly doing things,” he says. “It’s going to look stupid if you feel stupid.”
Co-star Bradley James, who plays Arthur, doesn’t have to pretend to utter incantations but he instead has the challenge of head-to-toe chain mail.
Prince Arthur is out with Merlin when they get mixed up in a tavern brawl… Instead of making merry, the drinkers are raising merry hell. Arthur and Merlin are outnumbered and in trouble. Then up steps a mysterious young man who puts his life on the life to save Arthur. The man’s name is Gwaine (Eoin Macken) and, to show his gratitude, Arthur takes him to Camelot to get his injuries treated.
It turns out Gwaine is a Knight, and he’s as charming as he is heroic. He’s quickly taking advantage of Arthur’s hospitality and proving to be a ladies’ Knight. Even Merlin isn’t completely immune to Gwaine’s charm offensive which causes the young wizard a few problems…
But the biggest issue is two questionable Knights who are on a mission to kill Arthur… When they attack, Gwaine and Merlin have to save the Prince…
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