Ruaridh Silvio James MacGillivray-Mollica (born 14 October 1999) is a Scottish-Italian actor, writer, and director. For his performance in the film Sebastian (2024), he was nominated for a British Independent Film Award. On television, he appeared in the Channel 5 series Witness Number 3 and the BBC Three series Red Rose (both 2022).
Ruaridh Mollica | |
|---|---|
.png) Mollica at the 2024 Film Fest Gent | |
| Born | Ruaridh Silvio James MacGillivray-Mollica 14 October 1999 Prato, Italy |
| Alma mater | Heriot-Watt University |
| Years active | 2013–present |
Mollica was named one of Screen International's 2024 Rising Stars Scotland.[1]
Early life and education
editMollica was born in Prato, Italy to a Scottish mother and an Italian father.[2] Mollica attended Broughton High School in Edinburgh.[3] He joined the Strange Town youth theatre company, where he met his agent Ruth Hollyman.[4] Mollica graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Heriot-Watt University in 2021.[5] During his time at university, he participated in snowsports.[6] He intended to do a Masters degree in Cybersecurity at a London university, but declined the offer when he was cast in Red Rose.[2]
Career
editMollica began his career as a child actor, making his television debut aged 12 in an episode of the BBC One series Case Histories with Jason Isaacs and Mark Bonnar and his feature film debut as a background dancer in the Sunshine on Leith adaptation. He worked on-and-off for a number of years,[2] appearing in the 2015 drama Stonemouth as a young version of Christian Cooke's character[7] and the 2018 romance film Tell It to the Bees.
During his final year at university,[2] Mollica returned to acting when his Strange Town agent Ruth Hollyman got him the lead role opposite Joshua Griffin in Sean Lionadh's 2022 short film Too Rough,[8] which won a Scottish BAFTA. He then landed his first recurring television role as Patrick Hume in the BBC Three horror series Red Rose, which Mollica declined his postgraduate university place to film, and his first main role in the Channel 5 series Witness Number 3.[9] He also appeared in Wasted at the Jack Studio Theatre.[10]
In 2024, Mollica starred as the lead character Max Williamson in Mikko Mäkelä's sophomore feature Sebastian, which opened at the Sundance Film Festival.[11] For his performance, Mollica was nominated for the British Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performance.[12] Mollica also played a young version of Stephen Moyer's character Teddy in the Paramount+ series Sexy Beast. He has an upcoming role in the film Sukkwan Island.[13]
Personal life
editRegarding his sexuality, in a February 2024 interview with Queerty, Mollica said, "it was only when I moved to London and had the ability to be myself that I realised, 'Oh actually, no, I like men as well'".[14]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Sunshine on Leith | Dancer | |
| 2018 | Tell It to the Bees | Rose Attacker | |
| 2022 | Too Rough | Nick | Short film |
| 2022 | The Doomsday Clock | The Reader | Short film; director, writer |
| 2023 | Boys on Film: Dangerous to Know | Nick | |
| 2024 | Sebastian | Max Williamson | |
| TBA | Sukkwan Island |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Case Histories | Freddie Marshall | Episode: "Nobody's Darling" |
| 2015 | Stonemouth | Young Stewart | Part 1 |
| 2022 | Witness Number 3 | Po | Main role |
| 2022 | Red Rose | Patrick Hume | 5 episodes |
| 2024 | Sexy Beast | Young Teddy Bass | |
| 2024 | The Jetty | Troy | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Ridley | Ryan Stanford | 2 episodes (series 2) |
| 2024 | The Franchise | Jaz | Supporting role (5 episodes) |
| TBA | A Thousand Blows | Nicholas Graften |
Music videos
edit- "Easter Road" (2020), Callum Beattie
References
edit- ^ Kemp, Stuart (19 August 2024). "Rising Stars Scotland 2024: Ruaridh Mollica (actor)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d Bamigboye, Baz (19 January 2024). "Breaking Baz: Scottish-Italian Newcomer Ruaridh Mollica On His Breakthrough Performance In Mikko Makela's Sundance-Bound 'Sebastian'". Deadline. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Drama Students' Scripts Performed at Traverse". Broughton High School, Edinburgh. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Ruaridh Mollica". Strange Town Agency. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Congratulations class of 2021: Heriot-Watt University". The Herald. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Volunteer Awards 20/21". HWU Sports Union. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ Dibdin, Thom (8 June 2015). "Strange Town Nights". All Edinburgh Theatre. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ Orenstein, Eitan (26 March 2023). "In Conversation With Ruaridh Mollica". The Student. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ Palmer, Katie (20 July 2022). "Witness Number 3 cast: Who is in the Channel 5 series?". Daily Express. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Chandra, Rika (25 November 2022). "Review: Wasted, Jack Studio". Everything Theatre. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ Avella, Frank J. (23 January 2024). "Sundance: Director Mikko Mäkelä, Star Ruaridh Mollica On Their Bold New Queer-Themed Film 'Sebastian'". AwardsDaily. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Pulver, Andrew (2024-11-05). "Kneecap leads nominations for British independent film awards". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Swann Arlaud, Woody Norman, Ruaridh Mollica and Alma Pöysti to Star in 'Sukkwan Island' Film Adaptation From Haut Et Court (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Scheetz, Cameron (1 February 2024). "Ruaridh Mollica says sex worker drama 'Sebastian' helped him understand his queerness". Queerty. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
External links
edit- Ruaridh Mollica at IMDb
- Ruaridh Mollica at Spotlight