Many successful actor and actresses knew right from infancy that there were going to end up in the entertainment industry, but this was not the case for Richard Armitage, a renowned actor who was already seventeen before he joined a circus at Budapest which was his first attempt at acting.
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Richard Crispin Armitage popularly known by fans as Richard Armitage was born on the 22nd day of August 1971 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England, UK. Richard was born as the second son of Margaret (Hendey) and John Armitage. His mother Margaret worked as a secretary while his dad is a trained engineer.
The celebrity actor was named after King Richard the 3rd because his birth coincided with the anniversary of the day the king was slain on the battlefield. The actor describes himself as a lonely child; according to him, his passion for reading was what made him develop vivid imaginations that saw his emergence as an actor. His childhood favorite includes The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
Richard has an older brother named Chris and he suffers from aquaphobia (fear of drowning) which is a resultant effect of an incident in his early years when his stroller fell into a neighbor’s pond.
It is known that Richard received his earliest formal education from Huncote Community Primary School in the Blaby district. Several years later, he would move on to Brockington College in Enderby where he studied music. For some reasons best known to him, he left Brockington for the Pattison Dancing Academy in Coventry.
At the age of fourteen, while watching a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, the budding actor discovered a strong interest in acting. He once related that he came to realize that the casts were having a good time and at the same time entertaining the audience. They were doing something they enjoyed doing and getting paid for it, instantly, he made the decision to join the entertainment industry.
When he was seventeen, Richard made his debut in acting by working at a circus in Budapest. He stayed with the circus for six weeks before he was able to get his equity card after which he returned to England and started making appearances in theater productions in drama and music genres. He acted in both major and minor parts for theater, films, and series till his big break came with his part in The Hobbit (2012/2014) which earned him a Saturn Award.
Is Richard Armitage Gay or Married, Who’s His Wife?
Oftentimes, the renowned actor has posed shirtless on several television series and films. His impressive body structure and likable personality have given rise to the accusations that he is gay. It has been rumored that Richard and The Hobbit costar Lee Pace are lovers because of several occasions where the two have been photographed together.
In an interview with Comic-Con, when questioned about his feelings for Richard, Lee responded that Richard was an amazing man and that he loved him. Lee’s response worsened the whole situation and has raised more doubt on the sexuality of both actors.
The English actor named Annabel Capper was romantically linked to Richard in 2013 but the relationship, if it ever existed, did not endure. Richard was also rumored to be romantically involved with the actress Daniela Denby-Ashe but the details of that relationship are not available to the public.
It appears that Richard has been taken off the marriage market by his current girlfriend Samantha Colley. The couple seemed to be keeping it secret and confidential but eventually, it all got out to the public. The celebrity actor Richard is now visibly engaged to Samantha Colley crushing all the gay rumors with Lee Pace which was a ruse in the first place.
Richard on his own part has not taken the liberty to reveal how they met, he has kept it close to his heart as usual, however, it is claimed that the lovebirds met on the set of The Crucible which appears to be believable because sometime in April 2014, there was news that Richard and Samantha will be playing together in The Crucible which gained the reputation of the year’s most significant theatrical productions.
From 2014 to date, we cannot really decipher whether the celebrity couple has tied the nuptials or not. Sometime in the past, there were rumors that the couple was ready to announce their engagement, but it appears that they have secretly tied the knot. It is said that Richard was once spotted with a new wedding ring and, it has been widely held that the lovebirds exchanged marital vows before a few close friends and family in an intimate morning ceremony at a secret location.
What Is His Height?
The celebrity actor’s body is masculine, his shirtless pose on many of his television movies and series attests to the fact that his body build is impressive. With his height of 6 feet 2 inches and commensurate weight of 93 kg (205 lb), he is sure to make the heart of every female in his vicinity beat faster than normal.
