Even if you’ve not binged on BBC’s latest remake of 1970s classic ‘Poldark’ – you’ve probably heard of its leading man – Aidan Turner. So, here's a few things you may not know about televisions favourite heart-throb...
Sorry, ladies - but Aidan is very much loved up. He’s been in a relationship with Irish actress and singer, Sarah Greene, for the past 3 years. Though he may be happy and settled now, things haven’t always been fine and dandy in the love department. Recently he admitted: 'Yes, it's happened to me. I've been upset, my heart's been broken…I don't know anyone on the planet who hasn't had their heart's broken. Love is love. It's the purest and rawest thing we have in life and everyone experiences it.' Ah, be still our beating hearts.
He can dance like a pro too. Aidan says, “I did ballroom and Latin American dancing for about 10 years - I even represented Ireland.”
He may have the brooding Cornish character down to a T – but Turner himself hails from Clondalkin, in South Dublin. He graduated from The Gaiety School of Acting in 2003 - where both Hollywood A-listers Olivia Wilde and Colin Farrell studied. “I wasn’t very academic so I didn’t want to go to college and study anything. I worked as an apprentice with my dad [an electrician] and knew manual labour wasn’t where it was at either.”
Think you remember seeing his face somewhere before Poldark, but can’t pin down where? It was probably his turn playing dwarf Kili in 'The Hobbit' films. He admits he wasn’t a die-hard Tolkien fan before shooting. And on auditioning for the role he remembers thinking “I’ve f****** nailed it. It’s there. It’s in the bag.” Then [the director, Peter Jackson] said: “So have you read the book?” And I went, “ah s***, I haven’t read it.” Last year, he won Best Male Newcomer prize at the Empire Awards for his role in ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’.
His body is not as perfect as Captain Ross Poldark’s. 'I worked hard for six weeks, killing myself in the gym, watching what I eat and staying away from bad food. But I would never, ever do all that if I wasn't prepping for a role. That's the only time it just happens,' he explained. 'I'm not like that now. I'm back to my usual soft self.'
And he really doesn’t get what all the fuss is about regarding his new hot-guy status. He wasn’t chuffed about BBC releasing this behind-the-scenes snap below, telling Newsbeat: "I don't know why the BBC are releasing photos of it.” Um, Sorry Aidan - we’re with the BBC’s on this one.
‘Poldark’ continues on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday nights
