Irish actor Donal Finn has won over fans with his portrayal of Mat Cauthon in Prime Video’s Wheel of Time. As the show enters its third season, viewers can expect to see more of Rand al’Thor’s (Josha Stradowski) transformation from humble shepherd to destined hero, the Dragon Reborn.

Amidst growing threats to Rand and his allies of The Light, Mat’s charming rogue character provides relief. So, who is the actor bringing this beloved The Wheel of Time character to life?

Early life of Dónal Finn including farming family

Born on August 31, 1995, in County Cork, Ireland, Donal Finn hails from a large farming family, one of eight siblings. The Mirror reports he grew up in Dromina and Finn initially traded sports for the stage after a pivotal experience watching a live production of Aladdin.

He reminisced: “Aladdin was one of the first musicals I did while I was in primary school.

“It was my first time getting up on stage and realising that maybe I liked doing this. I feel like I was recently reminded of something, or someone mentioned something, and I thought, ‘God, I forget how formative that was for me’.”

This early taste of performing sparked Finn’s passion for acting, prompting him to take on more school plays and immerse himself in theatre. The Irish sensation secured a coveted spot at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, thanks to a three-year scholarship from the Overstall Charitable Trust, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in acting in 2018.

How Dónal Finn landed The Wheel of Time role

The departure of Barney Harris after the first season of The Wheel of Time meant the role of Mat Cauthon was up for grabs.

Donal Finn reminisced with 1883 Magazine about his audition journey: “As for The Wheel of Time, that was a whirlwind. I was finishing a job in Morocco and had done much of the audition process over Zoom.

He added, “But because the show’s core is the relationships between these characters, they needed to see us interact in person. So, I had to fly to Prague to meet the team. It was a leap, but I felt it was necessary if I wanted the role.”

Despite initially losing out to Harris, Finn was ecstatic to eventually secure the part. Known predominantly for his portrayal of Mat in The Wheel of Time, Finn often finds himself recognised by fans even after stage performances.

What other TV shows and films have Dónal Finn appeared in?

Beyond The Wheel of Time, Finn has showcased his talents as Nettly in Netflix’s The Witcher, Kurt in Cursed, and Eoin McGonigal in the BBC drama SAS: Rogue Heroes. His Hollywood credits include roles in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, How to Build a Girl, and Four Letters of Love.

Finn is set to portray the notorious villain James Moriarty in the upcoming Prime Video series Yong Sherlock, with Hero Fiennes Tiffin taking on the role of the renowned detective.

The up-and-coming Irish actor has made a name for himself in theatre, his most notable role being Orpheus in Hadestown – a highly praised theatrical production that premiered at the National Theatre in London in 2018.

The musical went on to clinch eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical on Broadway.

The Wheel of Time season three debuts on Prime Video on March 13. All episodes are also available on the same platform.