Early Life and Education
Ruaridh mollica James MacGillivray-Mollica, born on October 14, 1999, in Prato, Tuscany, Italy, is a Scottish-Italian actor, writer, and director. Raised in Leith, Edinburgh, he attended Broughton High School and became involved with the Strange Town youth theatre company, where he met his agent, Ruth Hollyman. Mollica pursued higher education at Heriot-Watt University, earning a First-Class Honours degree in Computer Science in 2021. Although he was accepted into a postgraduate program in cybersecurity, he chose to focus on his acting career after being cast in the BBC Three series “Red Rose”.
Career Beginnings
Mollica’s acting career began at the age of 12 with a role in the BBC One series “Case Histories” (2013). He also appeared as a background dancer in the film “Sunshine on Leith” (2013). In 2015, he portrayed a young version of Stewart in the miniseries “Stonemouth,” and in 2018, he had a role in the romantic drama “Tell It to the Bees” .
Breakthrough with Too Rough
During his final year at university, Mollica returned to acting with a leading role in the short film “Too Rough” (2022), directed by Sean Lìonadh. The film, which explores themes of identity and family dynamics, received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Short Film and the British Independent Film Award for Best British Short Film . (Too Rough)
Notable Film Roles
Sebastian (2024)
Mollica starred as Max Williamson in Mikko Mäkelä’s film “Sebastian,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024. His performance earned him a nomination for the British Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performance . (Ruaridh Mollica)
Upcoming Projects
He is set to appear in the film adaptation of “Sukkwan Island,” alongside Swann Arlaud, Woody Norman, and Alma Pöysti. The film is an adaptation of David Vann’s novel and is currently in production . (Ruaridh Mollica, Ruaridh Mollica)
Television Appearances
Witness Number 3 (2022)
In this Channel 5 series, Mollica played the role of Po, marking his first main role in a television series . (Ruaridh Mollica)
Red Rose (2022)
Mollica portrayed Patrick Hume in the BBC Three horror series “Red Rose,” appearing in five episodes. The series delves into the dark side of social media and its impact on youth . (Ruaridh Mollica)
Other Television Roles
- “Sexy Beast” (2024): Played a young version of Teddy Bass.
- “The Jetty” (2024): Appeared as Troy in two episodes.
- “Ridley” (2024): Featured as Ryan Stanford in two episodes of the second series.
- “The Franchise” (2024): Took on the supporting role of Jaz Cox in five episodes.
- “A Thousand Blows” (2025): Cast as Nicholas Graften.
- “Vision Quest” (2026): Set to appear as Tucker; currently in production . (Ruaridh Mollica)
Theatre Work
Mollica has also showcased his talent on stage, notably appearing in “Wasted” at the Jack Studio Theatre in London . (Ruaridh Mollica)
Personal Life
Mollica is openly bisexual. In a 2024 interview, he discussed how working on “Sebastian” helped him understand his queerness, stating that moving to London allowed him to be himself and realize his attraction to men . (Ruaridh Mollica)
Recognition
In 2024, Mollica was named one of Screen International’s Rising Stars Scotland, highlighting his growing prominence in the acting world . (Ruaridh Mollica)
Filmography
Film
- “Sunshine on Leith” (2013) – Dancer
- “Tell It to the Bees” (2018) – Rose Attacker
- “Too Rough” (2022) – Nick (Short Film)
- “The Doomsday Clock” (2022) – The Reader (Short Film; also director and writer)
- “Boys on Film: Dangerous to Know” (2023) – Nick
- “Sebastian” (2024) – Max Williamson
- “Sukkwan Island” (Upcoming) . (Ruaridh Mollica, Ruaridh Mollica)
Television
- “Case Histories” (2013) – Freddie Marshall
- “Stonemouth” (2015) – Young Stewart
- “Witness Number 3” (2022) – Po
- “Red Rose” (2022) – Patrick Hume
- “Sexy Beast” (2024) – Young Teddy Bass
- “The Jetty” (2024) – Troy
- “Ridley” (2024) – Ryan Stanford
- “The Franchise” (2024) – Jaz Cox
- “A Thousand Blows” (2025) – Nicholas Graften
- “Vision Quest” (2026) – Tucker . (Ruaridh Mollica, Ruaridh Mollica)
Conclusion
Ruaridh Mollica’s journey from a child actor in Scotland to an acclaimed performer in both film and television is marked by a series of thoughtful role choices and a commitment to his craft. With a growing list of credits and accolades, he continues to establish himself as a versatile and compelling actor on the international stage.