Aidan Turner: Poldark Hair, Current Projects & More

When a period drama makes you a household name, the question everyone asks is: what comes next? For Aidan Turner, the Irish actor who embodied Ross Poldark for five seasons, the answer includes a psychological thriller, a West End stage, a Disney+ series, and a return to theatre in 2026. Here’s a grounded look at his career moves and personal life, based on verified reports.

Born: 19 June 1983, Dublin, Ireland ·
Known for: Poldark, The Hobbit, Being Human ·
Years active: 2008–present ·
Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) ·
Spouse: Caitlin FitzGerald (m. 2020) ·
Children: One (born 2022)

What is Aidan Turner doing now?

Since leaving Poldark in 2019, Turner has kept a steady rhythm of screen and stage roles. The pattern: he chooses projects that let him stretch beyond the brooding hero. (For a look at another Irish actor navigating TV drama and period roles, see Damien Molony: From Being Human to Bergerac.)

Recent film and television roles

• In 2022 he starred in ITV’s psychological thriller The Suspect as Dr Joseph O’Loughlin (Wikipedia).
• He played tennis coach Glenn Lapthorne in the 2023 drama Fifteen-Love (Wikipedia).
• In 2024 he took on the role of TV journalist Declan O’Hara in Disney+’s Rivals (PBS Masterpiece).

Theatre performances

Turner returned to the West End in 2022 in The Lieutenant of Inishmore. More recently, in 2026 he performed in Les Liaisons Dangereuses directed by Marianne Elliott, which ran from April to June at the Donmar Warehouse (Man About Town).

The implication: Turner’s post-Poldark choices reflect a long-term strategy to avoid being pigeonholed.

Did the cast of Poldark get along?

Behind-the-scenes relationships often fascinate fans more than on-screen romance. For Poldark, the main cast has described a professional and friendly atmosphere.

Eleanor Tomlinson and Aidan Turner’s off-screen relationship

Both actors have said in interviews that their working relationship was warm and cordial. Tomlinson told Radio Times that Turner was “very professional” and they shared a good rapport (BBC America). No reports of significant conflict have surfaced.

General cast dynamics

• The cast maintained a friendly set culture, according to multiple interviews.
• There were no publicised fallouts among the main actors.

The pattern: a collaborative set culture likely contributed to the show’s consistent quality across five seasons.

For a close look at another actor’s career journey through period drama and contemporary roles, read Tom Hollander: Biography, Famous Roles, and Personal Life.

Does Aidan Turner have any children?

Yes. According to verified reports, Turner and his wife Caitlin FitzGerald have one child, a son born in January 2022 (Wikipedia). A 2026 profile in Man About Town refers to his son as four years old at the time, confirming the timeline (Man About Town).

He has not publicly shared further details about the child’s name or additional children.

Did Aidan Turner wear a wig in Poldark?

One of the most persistent questions about the show. The answer is no.

Hair styling for the role

In interviews, Turner confirmed that he did not wear a wig. He grew his own hair long and had it styled—sometimes coloured—to match Ross Poldark’s dark, windswept look (BBC America). The long locks became a signature of the character.

His natural hair colour and texture

Turner’s natural hair is brown, and he has said that maintaining the style for five seasons required regular trims and conditioning. No hairpiece was used.

The catch: achieving that look required daily maintenance, a detail often overlooked by fans.

Is Aidan Turner a smoker?

Turner has been photographed smoking in public on several occasions, including during the Poldark era. However, he has never made a public statement about his smoking habits, and there is no official confirmation that he currently smokes (Wikipedia). The evidence is limited to paparazzi images and anecdotal reports.

What this means: without official confirmation, any conclusion remains speculative.

Timeline

Turner’s career path is a steady climb from Irish television to international stardom, punctuated by strategic role choices.

• 2008–2009: Role in RTÉ’s The Clinic (Wikipedia)
• 2009–2011: Played Mitchell in BBC’s Being Human (Wikipedia)
• 2012–2014: Portrayed Kili in The Hobbit film trilogy (Wikipedia)
• 2015–2019: Starred as Ross Poldark in BBC’s Poldark (Wikipedia)
• 2021: Led the historical drama Leonardo as Leonardo da Vinci (PBS Masterpiece)
• 2022: Performed in The Lieutenant of Inishmore on the West End (Wikipedia)
• 2023: Starred in ITV’s The Suspect (Wikipedia)
• 2024: Played Declan O’Hara in Disney+’s Rivals (Wikipedia)
• 2026: Performed in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (April–June) (Man About Town)

The implication: his career arc shows a deliberate effort to remain versatile.

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Born 19 June 1983 in Dublin, Ireland (Wikipedia)
• Played Ross Poldark in Poldark (2015–2019) (BBC America)
• Did not wear a wig in Poldark (BBC America)
• Married Caitlin FitzGerald in August 2020 (Wikipedia)
• One child born in January 2022 (Wikipedia)
• Starred in Rivals (2024) (PBS Masterpiece)
• Performed in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2026) (Man About Town)

What’s unclear

• Current smoking habits – no official statement (Wikipedia)
• Future acting projects beyond 2026 (Wikipedia)
• Details of his private family life (e.g., child’s name, home life) (Wikipedia)
• Net worth not confirmed (Wikipedia)
• Whether Turner owns East London property (Wikipedia)
• Turner’s political views (Wikipedia)
• Turner’s full education history (Wikipedia)

“I didn’t wear a wig. I grew my hair out and they coloured it a bit darker.”

Aidan Turner, in an interview with BBC America (BBC America interview)

“He’s incredibly professional. We had a great laugh on set.”

Eleanor Tomlinson, on working with Turner (BBC America interview)

Since leaving Cornwall, Turner has built a career that proves he’s more than a period-drama heartthrob. The pattern is deliberate: he turns down easy typecasting for roles that demand range—a thriller doctor, a tennis coach, a manipulative journalist. For an actor who could have coasted on Poldark’s nostalgia, the choice is clear: keep moving, keep surprising, or risk being remembered for only one thing.

For viewers who want to track his next move, the best bet is the stage. Theatre remains his testing ground, and with a young family at home, he’s likely to stay selective. The implication for fans: don’t expect a Poldark reunion anytime soon.

Frequently asked questions