television
stage
- colin was born and raised in greenwich, london.
- the son of william tarpey, a stage actor, and elizabeth tarpey, a costume designer, colin is the oldest of four children, with two younger brothers and one younger sister.
- colin grew up in and around the theatre scene in the west end and credits his father with the desire to be a stage actor.
- colin attended the dragon school in oxford, as well as attending london academy of music and dramatic art, graduating in 1996.
- in 2007, colin's father did an intervew addressing colin's rising star, stating that colin was "only doing it for the money and fame" and that he "never took acting seriously. colin addressed it in an interview of his own stating that his father was "sad that he would never be anything but a struggling actor. he remains estranged from his entire family due to this.
- his work with director steven mcqueen. colin considers him a very good friend and the two have a very good working relationship.
- colin has had a reputation around hollywood to be a bit of a playboy. he's never been married, nor engaged, and most people wonder if he is trying too hard to be leonardo dicaprio.
- he tends to be a bit intense when he is working, though nowhere close to being a method actor by any stretch of the imgination. he is very focused on doing a job well done but when the director yells cut, he is making jokes or being his charming self.
- even though he has abandoned his theatre routes, he hopes to return someday as long as "it is a role that is completely special." he has never identified what this would be but he is much more concerned with making films these days.
- is close friends and frequent co-stars with beatrice fitzallan. there has been some speculation that the two have dated over the years but neither have confirmed anything other than a platonic relationship, which is exactly what they have. colin tends to be very protective of her and is one of her biggest cheerleaders.
- is also close friends with leonardo dicaprio and has been seen partying on yachts and surrounded by models with leo on holidays.
- has dated several victoria's secret models throughout the years.
- dated his the tudors co-star, natalie dormer, while filming the series for one year. they broke up when he got bored of the relationship.
- has also casually dated keira knightley, sienna miller, jessica brown findlay, alice eve, and imogen poots throughout the years.
- despite his playboy persona he gives off, colin is actually quite a gentleman. he just has a problem staying in long term commitments because he gets bored.
- his favourite color is blue.
- tends to get drunk at award shows because he never thinks he is going to win.