Daryl McCormack

Daryl McCormack is an Irish performer who has established himself in theatre, television, and cinema. He gained widespread recognition for his starring role in the 2022 comedy-drama film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, which earned him significant critical praise and major award nominations.

Born on 22 January 1993 in Nenagh, County Tipperary, McCormack was raised by his Irish mother, Theresa McCormack, while maintaining a strong connection to his African-American father's family in Baltimore. His paternal grandfather, Percy Thomas, frequently visited him and introduced him to the theatre during his youth. McCormack completed his early education at Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan and St. Joseph's CBS, where he engaged in basketball and choral activities. He subsequently pursued formal dramatic studies at the Gaiety School of Acting and the Dublin Institute of Technology's Conservatory of Music and Drama, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in drama in 2014.

McCormack began his professional screen acting career on television with a role in the Irish soap opera Fair City from 2015 to 2016. In 2018, he made his debut on the West End stage playing Brendan in a production of The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Shortly thereafter, he expanded his profile by securing the role of Isaiah Jesus in the fifth series of the BBC period drama Peaky Blinders, which he played from 2019 to 2022, and appearing in the 2020 comedy-thriller movie Pixie.

His career continued to progress with prominent television roles, including the recurring character Aram in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time in 2021 and Matthew Claffin in the dark comedy series Bad Sisters in 2022. That same year, he starred opposite Emma Thompson as the title character in Sophie Hyde's film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande. He followed this success with roles in the 2023 mystery film The Lesson and the BBC thriller series The Woman in the Wall.

McCormack's portrayal in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande earned him two BAFTA Award nominations, including Best Actor in a Leading Role, alongside a nomination for a British Independent Film Award. He was previously recognized as a Screen International Star of Tomorrow in 2021 and received the Trophée Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. His recent feature film work includes the disaster movie Twisters in 2024, followed by appearances in the projects Anniversary and Wake Up Dead Man in 2025.