Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (born July 27, 1977, Dublin) is an Irish actor.
He was born Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keeffe. Rhys-Meyers changed his name when he began acting, Meyers is his mother's maiden name. Shortly after Jonathan was born his family moved to County Cork, Ireland, where he still resides. Jonathan had a turbulent childhood. After his father left the family when Jonathan was only three years old, his mother raised Jonathan and his three younger brothers on her own. At the age of 16 he was permanently expelled from school, but he was discovered by casting agents shortly after and began a career in acting.
Rhys-Meyers has starred in television programs like Gormenghast and hit films like Velvet Goldmine and Bend It Like Beckham. He has firmly established himself as one of Ireland's newest upcoming talents. Even though Rhys-Meyers is still relatively unknown he became a cult celebrity at the age of 19 with his role as Brian Slade in Velvet Goldmine.
Trivia
- Was born with a heart condition and was baptized early out of fear that he might die
- Is also a talented singer and musician
- Sang some of the songs found on the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack
- Was romantically linked to Australian actress Toni Collette
Selected filmography
- A Man of No Importance (1994)
- Michael Collins (1996)
- The Disappearance of Finbar (1996)
- The Maker (1997)
- Telling Lies in America (1997)
- Velvet Goldmine (1998)
- The Governess (1998)
- The Tribe (1998)
- B. Monkey (1998)
- Ride with the Devil (1999)
- Titus (1999)
- Gormenghast (2000)
- Prozac Nation (2001)
- Tangled (2001)
- The Magnificent Ambersons (2002)
- Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
- I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (2003)
- The Emperor's Wife (2003)
- The Lion in Winter (2003)
- Vanity Fair (2004)
- Alexander (2004)