
Joe Armstrong
Biography
Joe Armstrong is an English actor, best known for his roles in the television series Robin Hood, Happy Valley, and The Village. He has also starred in films such as Darkest Hour and The Hollow Crown.
Armstrong was born in Hammersmith, London, England, in 1978. He is the son of actor Alun Armstrong. He has an older brother, Tom, and a younger brother, Dan, who was in the band Clock Opera. He attended Elliott School in Putney from 1993 to 1997. He then studied at the University of Bristol, where he acted in The Brecht Project—a collection of scenes from the works of Bertolt Brecht—in 1998 and Women Beware Women in 1999.
Armstrong's first major television role came in 2006, when he was cast as Allan A Dale in the BBC series Robin Hood. He remained with the series for all three seasons, which aired from 2006 to 2009.
In 2014, Armstrong starred in the BBC series Happy Valley as Ashley Cowgill, a police officer who is investigating a murder in a small Yorkshire town. The series was a critical and commercial success, and Armstrong's performance was praised by critics.
In 2017, Armstrong starred in the BBC series The Village as Bairstow, a newcomer to a small English village who is hiding a dark secret. The series was also a critical and commercial success, and Armstrong's performance was praised by critics.
Armstrong is currently filming the upcoming television series The Undeclared War, a six-part thriller series for Channel 4. He will play the role of Daniel Granger, a computer analyst who is recruited by the government to help with a cyberwarfare operation.
Known For

TV
Midsomer Murders
David Cooke
1997

TV
Black Mirror
Nick Shelton
2011

TV
Waking the Dead
Jason Murphy
2001

TV
Hustle
Joe Ryan
2004

TV
The Bill
1984

TV
Foyle's War
Tom Jackson
2002

TV
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
Darren
2002

TV
Gentleman Jack
Samuel Washington
2019

TV
The Hollow Crown
Hotspur
2012

TV
Robin Hood
Allan
2006

TV
Britannia
Gildas
2018

TV
Happy Valley
Ashley Cowgill
2014

TV
The Bay
Dean Metcalf
2019

TV
Fool Me Once
Alexander Dosman
2024

TV
The Village
Bairstow
2013

TV
Blackpool
2004

TV
Rose and Maloney
2002

TV
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story
DCI Davies
2025

Film
Darkest Hour
John Evans
2017

TV
Land Girls
Danny Sparks
2009
Filmography
2025TVA Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Storyas DCI Davies2024TVFool Me Onceas Alexander Dosman2019TVGentleman Jackas Samuel Washington2019TVThe Bayas Dean Metcalf2018FilmThe Good Soldier Schwejk2018TVBritanniaas Gildas2017FilmDarkest Houras John Evans2016FilmTo Walk Invisibleas Thomas Mallinson2016TVDark Angelas Joe Nattras2014TVHappy Valleyas Ashley Cowgill2014FilmCloser to the Moonas Răzvan Orodel2013TVThe Villageas Bairstow2012TVThe Hollow Crownas Hotspur2012TVPublic Enemiesas Dr Ben Somers2011TVBlack Mirroras Nick Shelton2010TVA Passionate Womanas Donald (1950s)2009TVLand Girlsas Danny Sparks2009FilmBreaking the Mouldas Norman Heatley2007FilmOnce Upon a Time on the Westwayas Chas2007TVParty Animals2006TVRobin Hoodas Allan2004TVBlackpool2004TVPasser Byas Tinley2004TVHustleas Joe Ryan2003TVBetween The Sheetsas Richard Lloyd2002TVFoyle's Waras Tom Jackson2002TVRose and Maloney2002TVThe Inspector Lynley Mysteriesas Darren2001TVWaking the Deadas Jason Murphy1997TVMidsomer Murdersas David Cooke1984TVThe Bill