Clive Standen

Clive Standen was born on a British Army base in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, on July 22, 1981, and spent his upbringing in the East Midlands of England. His early years included attending King Edward VII School and a performing arts course at Melton Mowbray College. During his late teens, Standen was an international Muay Thai Boxer and a Fencing gold medalist, skills that later enhanced his acting roles. His introduction to stunts and sword fighting began at the age of 12, working with a professional stunt team in Nottingham. He developed ambidextrous sword-fighting capabilities. At 15, Standen was a member of both the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre, performing in lead roles at venues like The Royal Albert Hall and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. He further honed his craft by securing a place on the three-year acting course at the London Academy of Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Standen’s professional acting career began with appearances in various British productions. He featured in “Waking the Dead” and the Second World War documentary drama “Ten Days to D-Day,” both in 2004. In 2005, he appeared in three episodes of “Doctors” and the ITV adaptation “Tom Brown’s Schooldays.” A significant early role was Private Carl Harris in three episodes of the BBC sci-fi show “Doctor Who” in 2008. From 2009, he gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of Archer, the brother of Robin Hood, in the BBC TV series “Robin Hood,” noted for his sword fighting skills. He also played Gawain in the Starz TV series “Camelot” in 2010. His film credits include a role in the mainstream Bollywood film “Namastey London” alongside Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif.

A pivotal point in Standen’s career came with his role as Rollo in the History Channel’s “Vikings,” a series regular from 2013 to 2018. This role brought him significant recognition. Following “Vikings,” he took on the lead role of Bryan Mills in the NBC series “Taken” from 2017 to 2018, based on the film trilogy. Other notable projects include the feature film “Hammer of the Gods” (2012) and “Everest” (2015). More recently, he has appeared in “Council of Dads” (2020), “Mirage” (2020), and “The Morning Show” (2023). Standen has also lent his voice to video games, including “Aliens vs. Predator” (2010), “Inversion” (2012), and most notably as Lieutenant Demetrian Titus in “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II” (2024). He continues to engage with his “Vikings” legacy through the “Vikcast” podcast, which he co-hosts with Amy Bailey, discussing the series and more.