Jonas Armstrong facts for kids

Jonas Armstrong (born 1 January 1981) is an Irish-English actor. He became famous for playing the main character, Robin Hood, in the BBC TV series Robin Hood from 2006 to 2009.

Since then, he has appeared in many TV shows and movies. Some of his notable TV roles include miniseries like Dark Angel (2016), Troy: Fall of a City (2018), The Drowning, Hollington Drive (both 2021), After the Flood, and Coma (both 2024). He also starred as Sean Meredith in the first season of ITV's The Bay (2019).

Jonas Armstrong received great praise for his role as Barry Bennell in the 2022 TV movie Floodlights. His movie roles include Book of Blood (2009), Twenty8k (2012), and Edge of Tomorrow (2014).

Early life and Education

Jonas Armstrong was born in Dublin, Ireland, on New Year's Day, 1981. He lived in Ireland for his first six years before his family moved to Lytham St Annes in England.

He went to Arnold School and later earned a spot at RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), a famous acting school. He graduated in 2003 with a degree in acting.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out and Becoming Robin Hood (2003–2008)

Jonas Armstrong started his acting career in 2003. His first professional role was playing a new schoolteacher named Derek Meadle in a play called Quartermaine's Terms at the Northampton's Royal Theatre. Critics really liked his performance, saying he brought important humor to the play.

After that, he appeared in the TV comedy-drama Teachers (2004) on Channel 4. The next year, he was in the crime drama The Ghost Squad, playing a detective who wanted to expose police corruption.

His biggest TV role came in October 2006 when he started playing Robin of Locksley in the BBC One adventure series Robin Hood. At first, some people thought he looked too slight, but his acting soon won over critics. IGN magazine even called his performance "brilliant".

During the filming of the second season, Jonas broke a bone in his foot during a staged fight. In August 2008, he announced he would leave Robin Hood after its third season, saying he was "looking for new challenges." The BBC said they would "desperately miss" him. The show then ended after the third season.

Movies and TV Shows (2009–Present)

In 2009, Jonas Armstrong starred in the horror movie Book of Blood, playing the lead role of Simon McNeal. He also appeared in the BBC drama series The Street, where he played a soldier named Private Nick Calshaw who returned from Afghanistan with serious injuries. His acting in this role was highly praised. That same year, he read four CBeebies Bedtime Stories for young children.

Between 2011 and 2012, Jonas had roles in several TV crime dramas, including The Field of Blood, Prisoners' Wives, and Hit & Miss.

In the 2014 movie Walking with the Enemy, he played a university student who pretended to be a Nazi during wartime. Critics loved his performance, saying he showed great moral strength. That same year, he played Skinner in the big action movie Edge of Tomorrow, which also starred Tom Cruise. Variety called it an "exciting science fiction movie." Jonas said it was a "privilege" to work with Tom Cruise, who was "really supportive and generous." In November 2013, Jonas received a "Stars on Horizon" award at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.

In 2018, Jonas Armstrong received good reviews for two projects. First, he played a Spartan king in the Netflix historical miniseries Troy: Fall of a City. Then, he played Bob Geldof in an episode of the Sky Arts series Urban Myths. The next year, he co-starred as Sean Meredith, a fisherman whose teenage twins disappear, in the first season of the ITV crime series The Bay.

In 2022, Jonas Armstrong starred in the TV film Floodlights, playing Barry Bennell. This role was very challenging, and Jonas admitted he was hesitant to take it at first. However, he decided to do it to help raise awareness for people who might still be suffering from similar issues. Critics praised his ability to show how the character could seem friendly but also be dangerous. He felt it was important for the story to be told.

In the six-part mystery thriller series After the Flood (2024), Jonas Armstrong played Lee Ellison, a man whose mysterious past is revealed when he saves a baby from the River Tees. His next role was a very intense gangster in the four-part miniseries Coma, which aired in March 2024.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre Roles

See also

In Spanish: Jonas Armstrong para niños