5 Aidan Turner movies and TV shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist

Without a doubt, Aidan Turner has been a pleasure to the public and supporters of his performance. At each and every occasion, his remarkable portrayal of a character's life and features altered the audience's opinion about the actor. His works come about, as if they were legends, revealing not just his extensive reach but also his talent, which cannot be denied.

Aidan Turner was born on June 19, 1983, in Dublin, Ireland. His training was at The Gaiety School of Acting, and afterward, he was recruited for professional drama. Initially, he only got small parts in plays and some guest roles in Irish television series. Before anybody noticed, he was already considered the leading actor not only in the UK but also overseas.

Turner has portrayed diverse roles in his entire acting career, including vampires, warriors, painters, and soldiers. And although all of the characters are different, they do share a single characteristic: the presence of unbelievable depth and human psychological complexity.

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Here are 5 Aidan Turner movies and TV shows that deserve a spot on your watchlist

1. Poldark (2015–2019)

To the wider world, he will always be Ross Poldark. The BBC's series adaptation of Graham's works, starring Turner in the lead role, aired from 2015 to 2019 and traced the story of a British soldier who returned to Cornwall after the American Revolutionary War to find his estate in tatters and society almost unrecognizably different.

Turner's performance personifies the rebellion, conflict, and dilemma of Ross in the handling of love, loyalty, and justice. His acting was recognized for its emotionality and truthfulness. The remorse and suffering brought about by the class divide are also some of the themes that the series deals with, thus raising it above a usual romantic period drama.

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2. Being Human (2009–2011)

Prior to Poldark, Aidan Turner was already famous for his performance as John Mitchell in Being Human (2009-2011), a BBC supernatural drama that got the recognition of the viewers as a cult classic. He portrayed a vampire who wanted to live in harmony with the people, sharing his house with a ghost and a werewolf.

The series combined dark comedy and horror, and Turner's portrayal of Mitchell was remarkable for being both spooky and humane. Aidan's acting was so good that it actually changed the way vampires were depicted in movies at that time; he was not a monster but rather a man struggling with guilt and morals.

Turner's subtle acting gave a lot of emotional reality even to the most unreal part of the series, thus marking it one of his early masterpieces.

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3. Leonardo (2021)

In 2021, he took the role of Leonardo da Vinci in the Lux Vide historical drama series Leonardo. The story tells about the genius, through the ups and downs of his life, the relationships he made, and his never-ending quest for perfection.

In his performance, a conflict between the artist and the person is shown; because of this, an extraordinary emotional depth was granted to this historical figure. Due to its intriguing visual and narrative effect, Leonard presents a renewed and challenging perspective of the life of the artist to the viewer.

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4. The Hobbit Trilogy (2012–2014)

The Hobbit Trilogy by Peter Jackson gave Aidan Turner worldwide fame because of his character Kíli, one of the brave dwarves accompanying Thorin Oakenshield in reclaiming Erebor. He has appeared in the entirety of the trilogy, which includes An Unexpected Journey in 2012, The Desolation of Smaug in 2013, and The Battle of the Five Armies in 2014.

Kíli was the youngest and one of the most dynamic characters in the whole troop. The romantic relationship between him and Tauriel gave this saga an emotional touch and a soft side. Turner's acting was so appealing and so human that Kíli instantly became lovable and unforgettable in the face of the vastness of Middle-earth.

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5. The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018)

Turner's character in The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018) was probably the most unforgettable performance he ever gave. The Film combines different genres and shows history via the character's viewpoint. The plot goes like this: Calvin Barr (Sam Elliott), an aged war hero and the man who killed Hitler, is the protagonist.

Turner plays the role of Barr’s younger self, dubbed, and therefore, the emotional flashbacks become the film’s essence. His acting merges the character's earlier and later stages, and thus the story is told in terms of human feeling and not of myth. The movie's title, so unusual, does not reflect its profundity, and the part of Turner renders this strife of great power, yet mild, more intricate.

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Throughout his professional life, Aidan Turner has made it a point to work on the characters’ development rather than search for popularity. The moral anguish experienced in Being Human, the rough and challenging nature of Poldark, and the deep contemplation of Leonardo's character, along with the absurd yet realistic approach in The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot, are the different aspects of the human experience that Turner shows.

The selection of these five works of Aidan lets us view various phases of his career and demonstrate his adaptability as an actor. It does not matter if you are interested in British period drama, historical biographies, or fantasy adventures; there is something for everyone in his work. One thing is sure, Aidan Turner is still one of the most interesting and attractive actors of his time.

Also read: High Potential Season 2 gets Aiden Turner on board - here's all about the new guest star role