THREE years ago, Arthur Darvill was just another young actor trying to make a living by tackling roles in various stage and screen projects. Then he was plucked from obscurity to play Rory Williams, boyfriend and later husband of Amy Pond in Doctor Who – and his life was changed forever.
Although he’s no longer a member of the ‘Whoniverse’, having quit the series last year, he’s working with various alumni from the long-running sci-fi show in ITV's new eight-part drama Broadchurch – which was written by one of Doctor Who’s most acclaimed writers, Chris Chibnall.
“He came up to me while I was filming one of his episodes in Cardiff and said, ‘I’ve written you a part in a new TV series, will you do it?’
“I thought, ‘I can’t say no to that, that’s amazing!’ says Darvill, who clearly can't believe his luck.
Broadchurch begins with the discovery of youngster Danny Latimer’s body at the bottom of cliffs on the idyllic Dorset coast. Was it an accident, or an act of murder?
One mysterious local seems to know more than they’re letting on, but it’s up to two mismatched police officers – one local, the other an outsider – to figure out what happened.
Darvill was hand-picked to play a vicar whose church becomes the gathering point for members of the tight-knit community traumatised by Danny's death.
Did the 30-year-old Birmingham-born actor, who states he isn't religious, find it odd that Chibnall saw him as ideal to play a man of the cloth?
“I can kind of see where he’s coming from,’’ smiles Darvill. “I think you put a part of yourself in every role you do. He was always going to be a young vicar, somebody that was going to be quite eager and who wanted to build his congregation and build relationships within the town, and also able to relate to the Latimer family.
“Playing the role has given me a new-found respect for vicars and the kind of responsibility they have.’’
Filming took place in Dorset last year while the actor was also appearing on stage in West End play Our Boys.
He admits doing the projects simultaneously was “knackering’’ but reckons the actors involved in Broadchurch made it all worthwhile.
“The read-through was amazing; it was just like sitting with a who’s who of British television, so it was great working with such talented people,’’ he says.
The cast is formidable: it includes Andrew Buchan, Skelmanthorpe-born Jodie Whittaker, Vicky McClure and Pauline Quirke. But it was fellow Dr Who luminaries Olivia Colman and David Tennant, who left the biggest mark on Darvill – both play members of the police team investigating Danny's demise.
Colman appeared in Darvill’s very first episode of Doctor Who, and he says: “It was really good to work with her again, we get on really well.’’
As for Tennant: “Working with David was just great. He’s brilliant actually. He’s very different in this. I think he’ll impress.’’
For the first time since 2009, Darvill is not involved with Doctor Who, which returns at Easter.
He adds: “Doctor Who is going to follow me around forever. I think once you’re involved with something like that, you’re involved for the rest of your life.’’
Playing Rory has brought him recognition from all corners of the globe, not least Hollywood. “I’d really love to work there,’’ he admits. “I’ve received some interesting scripts from America recently. I’d like to do maybe a couple of episodes of something or a film, but I think I’ll always come back. London really feels like home.’
“I’m kind of up for anything!’’ he says, laughing. "I enjoy what I do and I want to be doing it for a very long time.’’
Darvill's next project is certainly a sharp turn away from Broadchurch – he will be appearing in the BBC’s lavish adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s novel The White Queen.
“I play the Duke of Buckingham, who’s kind of Richard III’s right-hand man. I’ve got a couple of really meaty scenes. It’s something very different, he’s not a very nice person. And I get a beard extension and curly hair, so I’m having a lot of fun with that. And I get to travel on the Eurostar every week to get to work, which is brilliant!"
Broadchurch begins on ITV at 9pm on Monday.
