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Jonathan Rhys-Meyers

JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS first gained international attention and a London Film Critics Circle Award for his starring role in Todd Haynes' Velvet Goldmine, with Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale and Toni Collette. Since then, Rhys Meyers has earned a Golden Globe Award for his starring role in the CBS television miniseries Elvis.

Rhys Meyers was last seen in the role of Henry VIII in the Showtime original series The Tudors, focusing on the rarely depicted turbulent early years of Henry the VIII's life, including his romantic and political relationships. The Tudors was directed by a variety of award- winning directors, including Charles McDougall. They enjoyed excellent ratings and they are currently filming the second season in Ireland. He also co-starred in last summer's action sequel Mission Impossible III, with Tom Cruise, Laurence Fishburne, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, under the direction of J.J. Abrams.

Rhys Meyers recently wrapped The Children of Huang Shi, directed by Roger Spottiswoode. The film takes place in a war-ravaged China in the 1930's and co-stars Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun Fat and Radha Mitchell.

In 2006, he received a Golden Globe Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his portrayal of the young Elvis Presley in the television miniseries Elvis. In addition, he received an Emmy nomination for his flawless portrayal of the king. That same year, he earned critical acclaim for his role in Woody Allen's Match Point, which was nominated for three Golden Globes, including Best Picture. The film, co-starring Scarlett Johansson, debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005 with Rhys Meyers winning the festival's Chopard Trophy for Male Revelation.

Rhys Meyers is also recognized for his role as the girls' soccer coach in the award- winning sleeper hit Bend it Like Beckham, in which he starred with Keira Knightly and Parminder Nagra. His other recent film credits include starring roles in Oliver Stone's epic Alexander, with Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie; and Mira Nair's Vanity Fair, with Reese Witherspoon.

On the small screen, Rhys Meyers has starred in a wide range of longform projects, both here and in the U.K. Among his television credits are the Showtime presentation of The Lion in Winter, with Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close; Alfonso Arau's The Magnificent Ambersons; Gormenghast; The Tribe; and Samson and Delilah.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Rhys Meyers made his film debut in A Man of No Importance and then played the young assassin in Neil Jordan's biopic Michael Collins. His subsequent film credits have included The Maker; Telling Lies in America, starring Kevin Bacon; The Governess, opposite Minnie Driver; the thriller B. Monkey; Mike Figgis' The Loss of Sexual Innocence; Ang Lee's Western Ride with the Devil; Julie Taymor's Titus, with Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange; Prozac Nation, opposite Christina Ricci; The Tesseract; the crime drama I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, with Clive Owen and Charlotte Rampling; and The Emperor's Wife.

Rhys Meyers currently resides in Los Angeles and Ireland.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2008.
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Jonathan Rhys-Meyers Facts

Birth Name Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keefe
OccupationActor
BirthdayJuly 27, 1977 (46)
SignLeo
BirthplaceDublin, Ireland
Height5' 10" (1m78)  How tall is Jonathan Rhys-Meyers compared to you?
Awards2006 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie (for Elvis)

Selected Filmography

August Rush
Bend It Like Beckham
6 Souls
Mission: Impossible III
Tudors: The Complete Series
Ride With the Devil
Velvet Goldmine
Match Point
From Paris With Love
Disappearance of Finbar
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