Ryan O'Doherty

Born as Ryan James Doherty (26 March 1995), Ryan O'Doherty is an actor, writer and multi media artist. Both his parents were Police Officers, his father also served in the Territorial British Army until he retired at the rank of Major. His father is Irish and his mother is English although she has strong family roots in Golden Age Piracy and Romani Travellers. Ryan is the great grandson of the notorious pirate, Captain Benjamin Hornigold. Hornigold helped to establish the "Republic of Pirates" in Nassau and by 1717 was the captain of one of the most heavily armed ships in the region, called the Ranger. It was at this time he appointed Edward Teach, best known in history books as "Blackbeard", as his second-in-command. Mindful not to attack British-led ships during his career, his crew eventually grew tired of the tactic and Hornigold was voted out as captain. In December 1718, after a mutiny and being left to die, Hornigold accepted a King's Pardon for his crimes and became a pirate hunter, pursuing his former allies on behalf of the Governor of the Bahamas, Woodes Rogers. He was killed when his ship was wrecked on a reef near New Spain during the hurricane season of 1719. Ryan trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama although he says he never intended to be an actor from an early age. Originally he had a great interest in humanity, morality and human psychology which lead him to study Philosophy, Ethics, Psychology and film making at school until he dropped out at the age of seventeen. He says he never fit in at school, he struggled academically and he didn't have many friends. Whilst between jobs he saw a callout out for an amateur play in a local theatre, he auditioned, landed the part and after he stepped on stage for the first time, he says he "never looked back". During his final year at Central, Ryan was diagnosed with dyslexia. Ryan has won awards and scholarships for his talent across the arts including his song writing, painting, film making and acting. He won best new comer at the LA Indie Film Festival for his self directed short, "ANKYLOGLOSSIA". Beyond his work, he remains an advocate for mental health and wellbeing.