There’s something quietly thrilling about watching an actor from a tiny Irish village step onto the world’s biggest fantasy stages — and Dónal Finn, born in Dromina, County Cork, on 31 August 1995 (Wikipedia), has done exactly that, moving from local pantos to the West End and then to Amazon’s The Wheel of Time and the Harry Potter universe. This article pieces together what is known about his life, career, and the questions fans most often ask.

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Full name: Dónal Finn ·
Born: 31 August 1995 ·
Age (as of 2025): 29 ·
Place of birth: Dromina, County Cork, Ireland ·
Occupation: Actor ·
Known for: The Wheel of Time, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Born 31 August 1995 in Dromina, County Cork, Ireland (Wikipedia)
  • Irish nationality (Wikipedia) (Wikipedia)
  • Played Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time (IMDb)
  • Appeared in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) (Screen Daily)
2What’s unclear
  • Current precise residence
  • Relationship status or partner name
  • Details about his teeth (rumored cosmetic change)
  • Exact height (sources list 5’10” and 5’8″; no official measurement)
  • Educational background beyond LAMDA (primary/secondary school)
  • Which character he played in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
3Timeline signal
  • 1995: Born in Dromina, County Cork (Wikipedia)
  • 2022: Film debut in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (Screen Daily)
  • 2023–2025: Played Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time (Wikipedia)
  • 2026: Co-lead in Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock series (South China Morning Post)
4What’s next

Eight key facts at a glance, covering the basics of the actor’s profile.

Label Value
Full name Dónal Finn
Date of birth 31 August 1995
Place of birth Dromina, County Cork, Ireland
Age 29 (as of 2025)
Height Approximately 5’10” (178 cm)
Occupation Actor
Years active 2022–present
Notable works The Wheel of Time, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Young Sherlock

Where does Dónal Finn live now?

Current residence

  • His current location is not publicly confirmed. Multiple sources describe him as having grown up in Dromina, County Cork, but none specify where he resides today (Wikipedia).

Privacy and public life

  • Finn keeps his personal life largely private. There is no verified address or city listed in any biography or interview.

The implication: Finn appears to value privacy, a common choice for actors transitioning from stage to screen. For fans hoping to track him down, the trail ends at the Cork border.

How tall is Dónal Finn?

Height in feet and centimeters

  • His height is approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) per multiple sources (Wikipedia).
  • Sources vary; official records are not published. Some databases list him at 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) (Famous Birthdays), but those are less reliable.

Comparison to co-stars

  • In The Wheel of Time, Finn’s height is similar to co-star Josha Stradowski (who plays Rand al’Thor), who is listed at 6’1″. The difference is noticeable in some scenes.
The catch

Even with a consistent source like Wikipedia, the lack of an official measurement means these numbers should be taken as approximations. In the entertainment industry, actor heights are frequently rounded up or down.

What this means: The 5’10” figure is the most commonly cited, but the discrepancy with other databases suggests no official measurement has been released. For a character like Mat Cauthon, height is not a plot point, but fans often ask.

What part of Cork is Donal Finn from?

Dromina village

  • He was born in Dromina, a small village in North County Cork (Wikipedia).
  • Coverage describes Dromina as a village in North Cork (Irish Examiner).

County Cork background

  • He grew up in County Cork on a farm with seven siblings (South China Morning Post).
  • He performed in community halls around Cork as a child, then in pantos in Fermoy and musicals at the Cork Opera House (Irish Examiner).

The pattern: Finn’s roots are deeply rural. His early exposure to performance came from local community theatre, not from a formal drama school connection — until LAMDA.

Is Dónal Finn Scottish or Irish?

Nationality

  • He is Irish (Wikipedia).
  • He was born and raised in Ireland.

Irish identity

  • His name, Dónal, is a distinctly Irish spelling; the accent on the “o” marks it as Irish Gaelic.
  • He reportedly had to clarify his nationality in interviews, as some assumed he was Scottish due to his role in The Wheel of Time (which features Scottish accents).

Why this matters: The confusion is understandable — the show’s fantasy accents can blur real-world origins. But Finn is unequivocally Irish, proud of his Cork upbringing.

What movies and TV shows has Dónal Finn been in?

Filmography

Finn’s screen credits include fantasy and franchise productions, with theatre work before and after LAMDA.

  • 2020: How To Build A Girl — appearance reported by Screen Daily
  • 2022: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore — credited role (IMDb)
  • 2023: The Witcher — appeared in an episode (IMDb)
  • 2023–2025: The Wheel of Time — Mat Cauthon (recast role, replacing Barney Harris) (Wikipedia)
  • 2026: Young Sherlock — James Moriarty (co-lead) (South China Morning Post)
  • Theatre: originated the role of Orpheus in West End Hadestown (2024) (Wikipedia)

Notable roles

  • Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time — his breakout TV role, taking over from Barney Harris in season 2.
  • James Moriarty in Young Sherlock — a major franchise role opposite Hero Fiennes Tiffin.
  • Orpheus in Hadestown — West End leading man, earning critical praise.

“Finn won the Sir Alec Guinness Award in his final year at LAMDA, a scholarship that helped launch his career.”

Screen Daily (film industry publication)

“He performed in pantos in Fermoy and musicals in the Cork Opera House as a child, honing his craft long before drama school.”

Irish Examiner (Irish news outlet)

Pattern watch

Finn’s screen career is still short, but every major credit so far leans into fantasy or franchise storytelling.

The trade-off: Finn’s filmography is still short, but it’s dense with high-profile fantasy and period projects. He’s clearly targeting the genre-fan audience, a smart move for an actor with his theatre background.

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Born 31 August 1995 in Dromina, County Cork, Ireland (Wikipedia)
  • Irish nationality (Wikipedia)
  • Attended London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) (Wikipedia)
  • Won Sir Alec Guinness Award at LAMDA (Screen Daily)
  • Played Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time (2023–2025) (Wikipedia)
  • Appeared in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) (IMDb)
  • Originated role of Orpheus in West End Hadestown (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Current precise residence
  • Relationship status or partner name
  • Details about his teeth (rumored cosmetic change)
  • Exact height (sources list 5’10” and 5’8″; no official measurement)
  • Educational background beyond LAMDA (primary/secondary school)
  • Which character he played in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
  • Net worth (no reliable estimates)

For an actor with such a fast-rising profile, the gaps in public knowledge are notable. The implication: Finn’s management seems to be controlling his personal narrative tightly, focusing on his work rather than his private life.

Additional sources

de.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, australiacurrent.net, sensacine.com, wikibiostar.com, filmweb.pl

For a comprehensive overview of his early life and professional milestones, readers can explore Dónal Finns biography and career.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is Dónal Finn’s partner?

As of 2025, there is no confirmed information about Dónal Finn’s partner or relationship status. He keeps his personal life private.

What happened to Dónal Finn’s teeth?

Some fans have speculated about a change in his teeth between early roles and later appearances, but no official statement or source confirms any cosmetic dental work.

Is Dónal Finn in Hadestown?

Yes, he originated the role of Orpheus in the West End production of Hadestown in 2024 (Wikipedia).

What is Dónal Finn’s height in feet?

His height is approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm), though sources vary and no official measurement is published (Wikipedia).

Where did Dónal Finn study acting?

He studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) on a scholarship (Wikipedia).

What upcoming projects does Dónal Finn have?

He is set to co-lead in Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock series, playing James Moriarty, expected in 2026 (South China Morning Post).

Does Dónal Finn have siblings?

Yes, he is one of eight children from a farming family in County Cork (Wikipedia).

What is Dónal Finn’s net worth?

No reliable estimates of his net worth are publicly available.

TL;DR: Dónal Finn is an Irish actor from County Cork whose career runs from West End theatre to Amazon’s The Wheel of Time, Fantastic Beasts, and Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock.

For an Irish actor who grew up performing in community halls, Dónal Finn’s trajectory is a reminder that raw talent, when combined with formal training and a bit of luck, can land you in the most fantastical of worlds. The next few years — especially with Young Sherlock — will determine whether he becomes a household name or remains a cult-favorite character actor. For fans of genre television, the choice is clear: keep an eye on Finn, because he’s just getting started.