In the careers of most actors, there is always that one role which they take on that will forever remain synonymous with them, with such characters occasionally growing to eclipse their other endeavors. For , it was his performance in Rambo, for it was Terminator, Harry Potter for , and Walter White for Bryan Cranston, among others. Aidan Gillen is no different from the lot mentioned above as his portrayal of Petyr Baelish in Game of Thrones was so outstanding that in the coming years, he will be better identified for that role than for any other one. Read on to find out more about his career, achievements, and personal life.
Biography (Age)
Aidan Gillen was born Aidan Murphy on the 24th of April, 1968 in Drumcondra, Dublin. The names of his parents are not known, however, his father was said to be an architect while his mother worked as a nurse. He received his secondary school education at St. Vincent’s C.B.S. in Glasnevin, during the same time in which he joined the Dublin Youth Theatre.
As a member of the Dublin Youth Theatre, Gillen notably played the role of Nick Bottom in the Project Arts Centre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In his late teens (the late 80s), Gillen bagged minor roles in a number of films. A few years later, he landed better roles in films like Belfry (1993), Circle of Friends (1995), and Some Mother’s Son (1996), which gained him little recognition in the industry. Gillen kept on searching for his breakthrough performance which came in his role as Stuart Alan Jones in the television series Queer as Folk (1999-2000). His performance in the series earned him a nomination for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. That same year, he won the Best British Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival for his role in The Low Down (2000).
On the stage performing front, Aidan Gillen was nominated for a Tony Award in 2003 for his Broadway role in Harold Pinter’s play The Caretaker. While he was not fortunate to have won the award, his performance in that play was said to have caught the attention of the producers of the HBO series The Wire, who subsequently cast him to play Tommy Carcetti in the show. In 2011, after having starred in films like 12 Rounds (2009) and Treacle Jr. (2010), Gillen began portraying Petyr Baelish A.KA Littlefinger on the HBO series (2011–2017).
Aidan Gillen’s Net Worth
According to the Celebrity Net Worth website, Aidan Gillen has an estimated net worth of $8 million. The Irish actor who began his career as a teenager in the 80s was able to make bank mostly through his acting career. Some of his most high profile work include The Wire (2004-2008), 12 Rounds (2009), Shadow Dancer (2012), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and Game of Thrones (2011-2017), where he is reportedly paid around $300 thousand per episode.
In addition to his work in front of the camera, Gillen has also earned money from his stage performances and work as a voice artist.
Family – Wife
Aidan Gillen married his wife, Olivia O’Flanagan, in 2001. There are conflicting reports as to when exactly the pair met each other as some say they have known themselves since they were teenagers while other reports say they met in 1997, the same year they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Berry Murphy. Gillen and his family lived together as he continued to make a name for himself in the acting industry. By 2000, the family added another member as the couple welcomed a son named Joe Murphy.
In 2001, after a four-year relationship that produced two children, Gillen and O’Flanagan decided to exchange marital vows as they became Ireland’s most famous celebrity couple. Their relationship blossomed over the following decade, as they seemed inseparable from one another. Gillen would often cite his wife and children at award shows for being his inspiration to achieve success. Everything between the pair seemed to be going well until it was announced in 2015 that the couple had been separated for a while.
Following the separation, Gillen was spotted out and about with Irish singer Camille O’Sullivan who he has been dating ever since.
Height
Aidan Gillen’s height is measured at 5 feet 9 inches or 175 cm. The slim body built, black-haired and blue-eyed actor further weighs about 68 kg or 150 lbs. His other measurements are Chest – 41 inches or 104 cm, Arms / Biceps – 14 inches or 35.5 cm, Waist – 33 inches or 84 cm.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.
