‘An Orc With An Arc’: Adam Young On His Role In The Rings Of Power Season 3

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, is returning to our screens on 11 November for its third season. Joining the show at its darkest and most dramatic moment yet is Adam Young, who plays Marnûkh, a new character in Tolkien’s world, and something the franchise has never had before: an orc with a real storyline of his own.

For those not familar with the Tolkienian tongue, orcs are essentially goblins – an aggressive and humanoid race of creature who serve as the primary soldiers of Middle-earth’s Dark Lords, Morgoth and Sauron. Where they’ve previously been reduced to a brutish band of brainless thugs, through Marnûkh we’ll finally learn what makes these strange beasts tick. 

The role is Adam’s biggest to date. He made is screen debut back in 2018, playing Kyle in Tom Beard’s Two For Joy, alongside Samantha Morton, Daniel Mays, Billie Piper, Bella Ramsey, and Emilia Jones. He has since starred as Jim Bob in Rodo Sayagues’s horror thriller Don’t Breathe 2, with other acting credits including Sex Education, Masters of the Air, Fallen World, The Archers, The Witcher, and Homegrown.

Now warming up for his first big TV release, we chatted to Adam about prosthetics, pinch-me moments and his favourite line in the series.

Q&A: Adam Young

Hi Adam, how’s life going at the moment?

Life is good! It’s been a steady flow of press in the build-up to the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three. It’s been really exciting getting involved with this side of the industry; it’s all very new. I love this time of year too; autumn is my favourite season. I’m a winter baby, so I love going on long walks in nature, all wrapped up with a nice warm coffee.

You’re set to star in the third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. What can you tease about the upcoming series?

It’s the first time ever we are seeing the One Ring being forged. All roads lead to Sauron. It’s dark, dramatic, and the stakes are very high!

You play Marnûkh – what can you tell us about your character?

Marnûkh is a new character in the world of Tolkien. For the first time, we see an ‘orc with an arc’. No other orc has had an active storyline like this. JD and Patrick [the showrunners] have done an amazing job, allowing the audience time to pause and stay a little longer with this character. Marnûkh is a complex character, driven by a deep motive.

What drew you towards this production – were you previously a Lord of the Rings fan?

I watched the trilogy way back when I was a teenager and loved them. I still need to get the soundtrack on vinyl…

How do you get into character?

I listened to a lot of Tom Waits, one song in particular called ‘Hoist That Rag’, and lots of Black Sabbath and AC/DC. Whilst filming I was also watching films such as Dracula with Gary Oldman and The Elephant Man with John Hurt. Both are amazing pieces of work with heavy prosthetics.

What was it like joining a production of this scale in its third season?

The scale is massive. The time and dedication from all the artists across the production blew my mind. This is the biggest job I have done to date.

I was welcomed with open arms from the very beginning and given a lot of freedom to bring my ideas to the table. Many of the cast and crew have worked on this show since the very start, so I felt like I was walking into their living room. They knew the lay of the land, and took me under their wings.

What was the dynamic like on set?

We had so much fun. It was long hours and hard work, but full of laughter. We were all in the same boat!

Any standout moments from rehearsals or filming?

Sitting down at the first table read for episode one was a real pinch-me moment. I remember walking into Shepperton Studios and seeing a picture of Oliver! (the 1968 version), which was filmed there. That’s one of my favourite films ever. I’ve watched it over 100 times and it’s the reason I wanted to become an actor. Oliver Reed’s performance is second to none.

There are too many standout moments, but one in particular is when we went over to Wales to film in the woods. It was magic. Boiling hot. Buzzing with nature. I felt like I was in a dream. I felt very lucky to be there and call it my job.

What is your favourite line in the series?

I got to say the famous line, ‘One Ring to rule them all.’

The Great Tree of Lindon in The Rings of Power. (© Amazon MGM Studios)

What has been your favourite project to date?

I’m lucky enough to say that I have had many highlights in my career so far. One that stands out is playing Danny in Bruce Robinson’s stage version of Withnail & I at the Birmingham Rep back in 2024, alongside Robert Sheehan and Adonis Siddique. I cherish those memories of being on stage with them, and we meet up at the pub every once in a while and laugh about it.

Any roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about? (If you’re allowed to tell us!)

I’m about to do a play called Tattooed On My Leg at the Drayton Arms Theatre Pub. It’s written by a dear friend of mine who I lived with whilst training at drama school. It’s been in the works for about five or six years, so we are both very excited to get back on stage together. It runs from 12–16 January 2027.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past?

Easy. My friends Tuwaine Barrett and Brenock O’Connor. I have had the pleasure of working with them in the past. They are both amazing actors and masters of the craft. I’m very lucky to have them in my life.

Which co-star did you learn the most from?

My co-star Ismael Cruz Córdova is an absolute beast to work with! Ismael cares deeply about the craft and keeps it light and fun whilst remaining professional. The perfect balance. The courage and compassion he brought to set was beautiful.

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of?

I really love being on stage. It’s where I feel the most comfortable. That said, I would love to dip my toe into more gritty dramas, like Mike Leigh’s work for example.

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with?

I would love to work with Mackenzie Crook. Detectorists is one of my favourite TV shows, and his most recent work, Small Prophets, is brilliant. Secondly, I’m a massive fan of Johnny Flynn, not just his acting but his music too! Finally, anything with Willem Dafoe in, I’m there!

How can we all live a little bit better?

Cold showers are my medicine. I have one every morning and have done for years…

What Adam Young Is Loving Right Now

I’m currently watching…
Slow Horses. I’ve just introduced it to my partner, so it’s great to go back and watch it all again.

What I’m reading…
Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell. I first read it when I was 18, so it’s been nice to pick that back up.

The last thing I watched (and loved) was…
Tender Loving Care, directed by Mike Leigh.

What I’m most looking forward to seeing…
Wild Horse Nine by Martin McDonagh.

Favourite film of all time…
Withnail & I, directed by Bruce Robinson.

Favourite song of all time…
‘Ol’ ‘55’ by Tom Waits.

Band/singer I always have on repeat…
Caleb Landry Jones (also one of my favourite actors).

Cultural guilty pleasure…
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three is coming to Prime Video on Wednesday 11 November.

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Image Credits

• Photographer: Jemima Marriott
• Grooming: Hannah Wynne
• Styling: Hannah Thomas