**This is not the real Richard Armitage. It is a fan page, in progress.**
Born in Leicester, he went to Brockington College and he then attended the Pattison College in Coventry, then studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). At 17 he joined a circus in Budapest for 6 weeks to gain his Equity Card.
His first major role was in Sparkhouse. After supporting roles in Between The Sheets, Cold Feet, and Ultimate Force, he landed his first leading role, John Thornton in North and South.
In 2005, he was seen in Macbeth, part of the BBC's ShakespeaRe-Told series. He starred in The Impressionists, as the young Claude Monet, and as Dr Alec Track in The Golden Hour.
He has appeared on stage in Royal Shakespeare Company productions and also in various musicals, including Cats.
In 2006 Armitage took on the major role of Sir Guy of Gisborne in the BBC series Robin Hood. He also appeared in a two-part Christmas special of The Vicar of Dibley, as Harry Kennedy - the vicar's new love interest.
He starred in George Gently, a one-off detective drama, playing biker Ricky Deeming. He appeared in the BBC Four production of Miss Marie Lloyd -Queen of The Music Hall as Marie Lloyd's 1st husband, Percy Courtenay. He also appeared in Agatha Christie's'Ordeal by Innocence' as Philip Durrant. He looks set to reprise his role as Gisbourne in the 3rd Series, due to start filming in spring 2008. Right now he is filming for his next project:'Spooks'. He plays M15 agent, Lucas North.
