# Darragh Hand
**Darragh Hand** (born 1998) is an Irish stage and television actor.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1998, in London, England[1](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/darragh-hand/) |
| Breakout stage role | Sable in *For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy*, New Diorama Theatre (2021) and West End (2023); Olivier nomination for best supporting actor, 2023[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/) |
| Current stage role | Chevalier Danceny in *Les Liaisons Dangereuses* at the National Theatre (2026)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/) |
## Early life and training
Sources differ on the district of his birth: the Everything.Explained profile gives Croydon, while the Spanish television database FormulaTV lists Manor Park[1](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/darragh-hand/). He trained at the London College of Music, graduating with a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) in Acting in 2021[7](https://film.one/person/darragh-hand).
## Stage career
**For Black Boys.** Hand appeared as Sable in *For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy*, Ryan Calais Cameron's play, at the New Diorama Theatre in London in 2021 and in the 2023 West End production[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/). BroadwayWorld lists his West End appearance in the show as a cast replacement[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/).
**Dear England.** The production ran at the National Theatre and transferred to the West End[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/).
**Other theater.** In 2022 Hand appeared as Clef in *Bangers*, Danusia Samal's two-hander for Cardboard Citizens and Soho Theatre, performed alongside Samal as Aria with Duramaney Kamara as the on-stage DJ; the show toured hostels, schools, day centers and prisons across London before a three-week run at Soho Theatre[3](https://sohotheatre.com/events/bangers/). He has also performed in *BOYS* with the company The PappyShow at the [Barbican Centre](https://www.edgepedia.org/barbican-centre)[4](https://www.thepappyshow.co.uk/home/boys).
**Les Liaisons Dangereuses.** In 2026 Hand plays Chevalier Danceny in *Les Liaisons Dangereuses* at the National Theatre, in a staging by Marianne Elliott alongside [Lesley Manville](https://www.edgepedia.org/lesley-manville) and [Aidan Turner](https://www.edgepedia.org/aidan-turner)[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/). BroadwayWorld counts it as his third West End credit, after *For Black Boys* and *Dear England*[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/).
## Television
**[Heartstopper](https://www.edgepedia.org/heartstopper-tv-series).** Michael Holden is a protagonist of [Alice Oseman](https://www.edgepedia.org/alice-oseman)'s prequel novel *Solitaire*, and Hand's character debuts opposite Jenny Walser's Tori Spring in the show's third season[5](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/darragh-hand). In interviews, Hand described preparing for the audition while performing in *Dear England*, asking castmates for tips, and using a dedicated "Michael Holden" playlist as part of building the character[5](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/darragh-hand).
**How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.** From February 2026 Hand appears as Liam, a member of the local Garda, in [Lisa McGee](https://www.edgepedia.org/lisa-mcgee)'s Netflix comedy drama series *How to Get to Heaven from Belfast*, in a main-cast role[6](https://principlemagazine.com/2026/02/11/darragh-hand/). In a 2026 interview with *Principle* magazine, Hand said the role let him draw on his Irish heritage, filming in the north of Ireland, and that the Irish cast welcomed him and helped him with the lines[6](https://principlemagazine.com/2026/02/11/darragh-hand/).
## Recognition
The Olivier Awards celebrate London theater and are Britain's most prestigious stage honors[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/).
## References
1. [Darragh Hand, FormulaTV](https://www.formulatv.com/personas/darragh-hand/)
2. [Darragh Hand, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Darragh-Hand/)
3. [Bangers, Soho Theatre](https://sohotheatre.com/events/bangers/)
4. [BOYS, The PappyShow](https://www.thepappyshow.co.uk/home/boys)
5. [Darragh Hand interview, Revamp Magazine](https://www.revamp-magazine.co.uk/darragh-hand)
6. [Darragh Hand interview, Principle Magazine](https://principlemagazine.com/2026/02/11/darragh-hand/)
7. [Darragh Hand — films, reviews and where to watch, Fi1m](https://film.one/person/darragh-hand)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stage practitioners and craft › Acting: theory, technique, and teachers › Acting coaches and training biographies › Overview of acting teaching and coaching*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license