Arthur Hughes (born 1992) is a British actor known for his roles as Ryan McDaniel in the Netflix series The Innocents and Ruairi Donovan in BBC Radio 4 series The Archers. His stage appearances include the role of Laurent in La Cage aux Folles at the Park Theatre, London, Phil in The Solid Life of Sugar Water with Graeae Theatre Company. and the title role in Richard III for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Personal life Hughes attended Aylesbury Grammar School, and graduated in 2013 from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. He has radial dysplasia affecting his right arm.
In between acting roles, Hughes has worked as a bartender, a meet and greeter, and a sales and marketing representative.
Career After starting his career in theatre and radio, Hughes landed his first big television role in 2018 with the Netflix series The Innocents, in the series regular role of Ryan McDaniel.
In 2022, he played disability activist Alan Holdsworth in the BBC's Then Barbara Met Alan; The Independent reviewer said that "Hughes is excellent as the emotionally unstable and tense Holdsworth". In the same year, he took the title role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Richard III, being the first disabled actor to do so. The Guardian reviewer said that "Hughes's Richard is every bit the schemer, dead-eyed and unmoved by the body count he leaves on the way to the throne, but he also has a smarmy mischief about him, delivering news of another dispatched victim in a breezy tone of voice and eking comic asides out of his character's darkness." Other stage credits have included Our Town, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Julius Caesar, Saint Joan and Romeo and Juliet.
Hughes plays the title character in the Disney+ period drama Shardlake, which was released on 1 May 2024.
Screen International named Hughes as one of its 2023 "Stars of Tomorrow".
Filmography Theatre Year Title Role Notes Tracy Tom White Bear Theatre 2015 Alix in Wundergarten Toby Grey The Other Room2016 Romeo and Juliet Mercutio/Lady Capulet Taking Flight The Solid Life of Sugar Water Phil Graeae Theatre Company 2016–2017 Saint Joan Ladvenu/The Page Donmar Warehouse 2017 Julius Caesar Lucius Sheffield Theatres 2018 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Billy Bibbit Sheffield Theatres2019 Our Town George Gibbs Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Vassa Pavel Almeida Theatre 2020 La Cage aux Folles Laurent Park Theatre2022 Wars of the Roses Richard, Duke of Gloucester Royal Shakespeare Company Richard III Richard III Royal Shakespeare Company2026 Summerfolk Pyotr Soslov National Theatre
Film Year Title Role Notes 2017 Saint Joan Ladvenu / The Page Filmed recording of the Donmar Warehouse stage production, streamed in cinemas 2018 Frank Blue Arresting Detective 2 2022 Richard III Richard III Filmed recording of the RSC stage production, streamed in cinemas
Television Year Title Role Notes 2012 Doctors Danny Hooper Episode: "Survivors" 2014 Ordeal by Innocence Jacko 3 episodes 2018 The Innocents Ryan McDaniel 7 episodes2021 Help Tim Television film On the Edge Mark Episode: "Mincemeat"2022 Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Dean Parolles Episode: "If It Be Man's Work" Then Barbara Met Alan Alan Holdsworth Television film2024 Shardlake Matthew Shardlake 4 episodes The Jetty Liam Ashby 2 episodes2026GoneDI Ivan Pemberley6 episodes
Audio Year Title Role Notes2014 Ordeal by Innocence Jacko/Constable BBC Radio, 2 episodes Andy Warhol's Wig Interviewer BBC Radio Drama on 4 The Real Trial of Oscar Wilde Robbie Ross BBC Radio Saturday Drama 2014–2015 Home Front Archie Tulliver BBC Radio 2018–present The Archers Ruairi Donovan BBC Radio
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