There’s something irresistible about an actor who can make a corset-clad character feel like someone you’d actually want to grab a coffee with — Harry Richardson, the Australian-born performer, has built a career doing just that, first as Drake Carne in Poldark and now as Larry Russell in The Gilded Age. With each role, he’s quietly become a fixture of period drama television, yet most fans know surprisingly little about the man behind the sideburns and tailcoats.

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Born: 3 March 1993 ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Known For: Larry Russell (The Gilded Age), Drake Carne (Poldark) ·
Active Years: 2015–present ·
Instagram Followers: ~72,000

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Born 3 March 1993 in Sydney, Australia (TV Insider)
  • Known for The Gilded Age, Poldark, and Dunkirk (IMDb)
2What’s unclear
  • His relationship status or whether he is married
  • Details about his partner or personal life outside acting
3Timeline signal
  • 1993: Born in Sydney (TV Insider)
  • 2022–present: Stars as Larry Russell in The Gilded Age (IMDb)
4What’s next
  • Season 3 of The Gilded Age continues his role (PEOPLE)
  • Ongoing career in television and film (PEOPLE)

Six details that define Harry Richardson’s profile, one pattern: an actor whose career is tightly woven with period dramas.

Label Value
Full Name Harry Richardson
Date of Birth March 3, 1993
Place of Birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Profession Actor
Years Active 2015–present
Height Approx. 5’10” (178 cm)

How old is Harry Richardson and what is his background?

Early life and family

Harry Richardson’s upbringing was a transatlantic one, splitting his childhood between Australia and England. That dual perspective likely helped him slip into both British and American period roles so naturally. At age two, his family relocated to London, but his teenage years were spent back in Australia, grounding him with a distinctly antipodean education.

Education and early career

  • Graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2014 (Trollope Society)
  • Auditioned for Doctor Thorne while visiting family in London (Trollope Society)
  • Professional debut in Death in Paradise (2015) as Gabe Lee (TV Insider)

Richardson trained at one of Australia’s top drama schools, WAAPA, then quickly found work in the UK. His first screen appearance was a guest spot on Death in Paradise in 2015, followed by the film Looking for Grace and the TV series Doctor Thorne in 2016. Each role nudged him closer to the costume dramas that would define his career.

The upshot

Richardson’s path from WAAPA to period dramas took just two years — a fast track that underscores both his talent and the appetite for fresh faces in heritage television.

The implication: his training and early roles laid the foundation for his period drama niche.

Who did Harry Richardson play in Poldark?

Role summary: Drake Carne

  • Played Drake Carne in BBC’s Poldark (2017–2019) (IMDb)
  • Drake is a blacksmith and younger brother of Morwenna Chynoweth

Drake Carne arrived in Poldark in season 3, a gentle but determined Cornish blacksmith who becomes a love interest for Morwenna. Richardson brought a quiet strength to the role, balancing the character’s working-class pride with a romantic vulnerability. For many fans, Drake’s storyline — a forbidden courtship — became one of the series’ emotional anchors.

Impact on his career

  • The role raised his profile in the UK television landscape
  • It led to recognition as a rising period drama actor

Landing a key part in a beloved BBC adaptation gave Richardson exposure to a massive audience — Poldark regularly drew millions of viewers. It also cemented his association with historical fiction, a niche he would return to shortly after.

The trade-off

Playing a period hero can be a double-edged sword: fans love you, but casting directors may see you only in wigs and corsets. For Richardson, the next move — The Gilded Age — doubled down on the 19th-century setting.

The pattern: Poldark was a key stepping stone in his career.

Who does Marian end up with in The Gilded Age and what is Harry Richardson’s role?

Role detail: Larry Russell

  • Plays Larry Russell in HBO’s The Gilded Age (2022–present) (The Gilded Age Wiki)
  • Larry is the son of nouveau riche tycoon George Russell

Larry Russell is the charming, idealistic son of a railroad magnate in 1880s New York. Over the show’s first two seasons, he grows from a sheltered young man into a progressive, independent adult — and, crucially, the romantic interest of Marian Brook (PEOPLE). By the end of season 2, Marian chooses Larry over rival Tom Raikes, solidifying their relationship.

Character arc in The Gilded Age

  • Season 1: Introduced as George Russell’s son, initially reluctant to join the family business
  • Season 2: Develops independence and a romantic relationship with Marian

Richardson has said the role challenges him to bring new dimensions to Larry in season 3 (PEOPLE). The character’s evolution reflects broader themes of social mobility and generational change. For audiences, Larry represents the hope that the old guard can learn from the new.

Why this matters

Richardson’s trajectory — from supporting player in a BBC historical to a lead in an HBO prestige drama — signals a growing appetite for Australian actors in American period pieces. He joins a cohort that includes Luke Bracey, another Aussie carving out a niche in international productions.

The implication: his role in The Gilded Age has elevated his status.

Is Harry Richardson in a relationship or married?

Publicly, Harry Richardson’s relationship status is not widely confirmed. He rarely posts about a partner on his Instagram (Instagram), and neither he nor representatives have made any statements about a spouse or significant other. The implication: Richardson treats his private life as just that — private.

What is Harry Richardson’s height and other physical stats?

Harry Richardson’s height is commonly listed as approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm). Other biographical details include his birth in Sydney, Australia, on March 3, 1993, and his active years from 2015 to present.

Career Timeline

A timeline of five key milestones in Richardson’s career, from birth to his current prestige role.

Date or Period Event
1993 Harry Richardson is born in Sydney, Australia (TV Insider)
2015–2016 Begins professional acting career; appears in Death in Paradise and Doctor Thorne (TV Insider)
2017 Plays a minor role in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk (IMDb)
2017–2019 Portrays Drake Carne in BBC’s Poldark (IMDb)
2022–present Stars as Larry Russell in HBO’s The Gilded Age (PEOPLE)

The trajectory: from guest spots to lead roles in prestige dramas.

What we know vs what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Harry Richardson is an Australian actor born in 1993 (TV Insider)
  • He played Drake Carne in Poldark and Larry Russell in The Gilded Age (IMDb)
  • He graduated from WAAPA in 2014 (Trollope Society)
  • He has been active since 2015 (TV Insider)

What’s unclear

  • His relationship status or whether he is married
  • Details about his partner or personal life
  • Exact birth date (sources conflict between March 3 and March 13, 1993) (TV Insider notes March 13)
  • Future projects beyond The Gilded Age

The pattern: while his professional details are documented, his personal life remains private.

Quotes

“My career has felt like 95% failure.”

– Harry Richardson, in an interview with PEOPLE

“Richardson was born in Australia, moved to London at age two, and later moved back to Australia for high school. He returned to Britain at age 18 and graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2014.”

– Trollope Society, on his background

The implication: these quotes reveal a humble perspective on a successful career.

For fans of period drama, one thing is clear: Harry Richardson is a rising talent who has already left his mark on two iconic shows. Whether he ever ventures beyond the 19th century or stays in corsets and tailcoats, his next move — season 3 of The Gilded Age — will be watched closely by the same audience that fell for Drake Carne. The implication for Australian actors eyeing international roles: a classical training and a willingness to cross oceans can still open doors, even in an industry that often typecasts the familiar. For Richardson, the choice is already made — he is a period drama mainstay, and that is more than enough.

Additional sources

thegildedage.fandom.com, facebook.com, en.wikipedia.org, anthemmagazine.com, famousbirthdays.com, reddit.com, theprotagonistmagazine.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is Harry Richardson’s most famous role?

He is best known for playing Larry Russell in HBO’s The Gilded Age and Drake Carne in BBC’s Poldark.

Is Harry Richardson on Instagram?

Yes, he has an active Instagram account with around 72,000 followers.

Has Harry Richardson won any awards?

He has not yet won major awards, but his performances have garnered critical praise and a growing fanbase.

Did Harry Richardson appear in Dunkirk?

Yes, he had a minor role in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk (2017).

Where was Harry Richardson born?

He was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

What character did Harry Richardson play in Doctor Thorne?

He played Frank Gresham in the 2016 ITV drama Doctor Thorne.