Bodyguard star Richard Madden looks unrecognisable as a cherubic schoolboy in sweet throwback

He's best known for his record-breaking leading role in smash hit BBC thriller, Bodyguard, and is now hot favourite to bag the part of a lifetime as James Bond in the 007 franchise.

But Richard Madden looked virtually unrecognisable as a cherubic schoolboy in a sweet throwback photo from 20 years ago, posted to his Instagram page on Thursday morning.

The acclaimed actor, 32, was worlds away from his dapper demeanour as he beamed into the camera in the adorable shot, taken when he was growing up in the village of Elderslie in Renfrewshire, Scotland.  

Throwback! Richard Madden looked virtually unrecognisable as a cherubic schoolboy in a sweet photo from 20 years ago, posted to his Instagram page on Thursday morning

Throwback! Richard Madden looked virtually unrecognisable as a cherubic schoolboy in a sweet photo from 20 years ago, posted to his Instagram page on Thursday morning

Alongside the snap, the Bodyguard star cheekily wrote, 'Tb to me 20 years ago', with an emoji of a walnut and a tongue-in-cheek 'no filter' hashtag.

Richard has previously admitted school was a 'constant humiliation', which saw him relentlessly bullied for his love of acting and 38-inch waist.

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Speaking in an interview with British GQ last month, he said: 'My high school was really rough. Growing up was just constant humiliation really.

'I went to youth ­theatre to try and get a bit more confidence. In hindsight maybe not the best move to try and fit into a rough, very masculine school to say, “Now I do song and dance!".'

Dapper: The acclaimed actor, 32, has admitted he was relentlessly bullied and school was a 'constant humiliation' while growing up in a small Scottish village (pictured last month)

Dapper: The acclaimed actor, 32, has admitted he was relentlessly bullied and school was a 'constant humiliation' while growing up in a small Scottish village (pictured last month)

It's not the first time the star has brought up his childhood, previously telling Flaunt magazine if he weren't acting, he'd be a 'shy, fat kid living in Scotland with no girlfriend'.

The Game of Thrones actor revealed the effect of being bullied 'is still a huge hangover around me'. 

BBC One's Bodyguard became the biggest new drama on British television in more than a decade.

The series - starring Keeley Hawes as the Home Secretary and Richard as David Budd, the officer assigned to protect her - achieved a record breaking 11 million viewers for its finale in September. 

Iconic: Richard won legions of fans as David Budd in record-breaking leading role in smash hit BBC thriller, Bodyguard, earlier this year (pictured in character with co-star Keeley Hawes)

Iconic: Richard won legions of fans as David Budd in record-breaking leading role in smash hit BBC thriller, Bodyguard, earlier this year (pictured in character with co-star Keeley Hawes)

Already a successful stage actor, Richard shot to fame in the role of Robb Stark in HBO fantasy drama Game Of Thrones in 2011.

In his next part, Richard appears as John Reid, Elton John's manager and first boyfriend, in the upcoming film Rocketman about the singer's rise to fame.

The actor is now said to be in the running to bag the coveted James Bond role when current star Daniel Craig, 50, stands down after his fifth turn as 007 hits cinemas in October 2019.

Speaking in a Bond-themed GQ shoot last month, Richard said: 'I'm more than flattered to be men­tioned, for people to consider putting me in that role. 

Breakout role: Already a successful stage actor, Richard shot to fame in the role of Robb Stark in HBO fantasy drama Game Of Thrones in 2011 (pictured)

Breakout role: Already a successful stage actor, Richard shot to fame in the role of Robb Stark in HBO fantasy drama Game Of Thrones in 2011 (pictured)

007? The actor is now said to be in the running to bag the coveted James Bond role when Daniel Craig stands (pictured with fellow Bond contender, Idris Elba, last month)

007? The actor is now said to be in the running to bag the coveted James Bond role when Daniel Craig stands (pictured with fellow Bond contender, Idris Elba, last month)

'I'm very flattered and thankful. It's a really brilliant thing to be in.'

Refusing to rule out that he has been offered the role, he said: ' I don't want to curse anything by saying anything. 

'I think that's the curse of that. If you talk about it, you'll curse it.' 

The Scottish thespian previously dated acclaimed British actress Jenna Coleman, 31, and has been in a relationship with rising star Ellie Bamber, 21, since summer 2017.

Cute couple: The Scottish thespian has been in a relationship with rising star Ellie Bamber, 21, since summer 2017 (pictured together in June)

Cute couple: The Scottish thespian has been in a relationship with rising star Ellie Bamber, 21, since summer 2017 (pictured together in June)

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