Colin Morgan is still ‘very much drawn to unsung heroes’ 18 years after his breakout role in Merlin. Since playing the secret warlock in 2008, the actor has portrayed brooding detectives, tortured recluses, and whip-smart activists. He says, ‘I’m very much drawn towards the outsiders, the unsung hero characters, the ones who go on a transformational journey that doesn’t necessarily need to be epic and blockbuster style, it can be very quiet and very internal.’
On His Debut Novel
His debut novel, The Ballad of Ronan McCoy, is a coming-of-age tale about two friends, Brendan and Ronan, who must reunite after Ronan suffers a brain injury. Morgan researched extensively with the Child Brain Injury Trust. ‘It’s inspiring to hear these everyday stories… it felt more important than ever,’ he shares.
Industry Inspirations
Morgan cites filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson as an inspiration for his ‘enriching, complicated, diversified stories.’ He also collects recommendations from co-stars, building a playlist of songs, books, and movies that inspired them.
Navigating Fame
Despite a large fanbase, Morgan remains private. ‘I’ve never had any social media… I just stick to the thing that I’m good at,’ he says. He appreciates fans who connect with his work: ‘That’s the only reason why you do something, isn’t it, to make someone feel something.’
Dark Projects and New Roles
Known for thrillers like The Fall, Morgan seeks challenges: ‘If I feel like I could do it standing on my head… it’s probably the wrong reason.’ His upcoming role in Apple TV’s Trying is a shift to comedy-drama, playing a vital office character. ‘It really did feel like home straight away,’ he says.
Looking ahead, Morgan hopes to return to the stage soon. The Ballad of Ronan McCoy is out June 18, and Trying series five returns on July 8, 2026.
