Jonathan Rhys Meyers biography
Jonathan Rhys Meyers (born Jonathan Michael Francis O’Keeffe; 27 July 1977) is an Ireland film and television actor. He is best known for playing King Henry VIII in the BBC and Showtime drama The Tudors and for his androgynous appearance. His looks and distinct style allow him to also work as a Model (person), most notably for Club Monaco, Versace, and Hugo Boss.
Biography
Early life
Meyers was born Jonathan Michael Francis O’Keeffe in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, the son of Geraldine Meyers and John O'Keeffe, who is a musician. His stage name is derived from his mother's maiden name, Meyers.
Rhys Meyers was born with a serious heart problem and was baptism shortly after his birth, as it was feared he would not survive long enough for a traditional baptism ceremony. He spent the first few months of his life in the hospital. Meyers still lives in County Cork, Republic of Ireland where his family moved when he was a few months old. He has three younger brothers named Jamie, Alan, Paul.
When Rhys Meyers was three years old, his parents separated. His mother raised Jonathan and his brother Alan, while his other two brothers went to live at their grandmother's house with their father. They had spoken every day for several years.
Career
Rhys Meyers was expelled from the North Monastery Secondary School at age 16, and spent much of his time hanging out in pool halls namely the Victoria Sporting Club on Patricks Quay and the Coliseum Leisure Centre on McCurtain Street. Casting agents looking for Irish boys to appear in
War of the Buttons (1994 film) spotted Rhys Meyers at a Cork (city) pool hall, the Victoria Sporting Club, and invited him to audition. Although he was passed over for
War of the Buttons (1994 film), the casting agents encouraged him to pursue a career in acting. His first film role came soon afterward, in
A Man of No Importance (1994). In 1996 he appeared in
Michael Collins (film), as Michael Collins (Irish leader)' assassin.
Rhys Meyers has starred in television series including
Gormenghast (miniseries) (2000) and in the CBS 4-hour mini-series
Elvis (TV series) (2005) as Elvis Presley alongside Rose McGowan as Ann-Margret. The latter earned him an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe win. He is currently starring in the BBC series
The Tudors (2007) as young King Henry VIII. He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama in 65th Golden Globe Awards for the role.
His film roles range from a David Bowie-inspired glam rock star in
Velvet Goldmine (1998) to a dedicated girls' Football (soccer) coach in
Bend It Like Beckham (2002). He appeared in
Vanity Fair (2004 film) (2004) alongside Reese Witherspoon. In 2005, Rhys Meyers starred in Woody Allen's film
Match Point (film), for which he received a Chopard Trophy at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2006, he appeared in
Mission: Impossible III. Other projects include
August Rush (2007) and "The Children of Huang Shi" (2007). He is rumored to be appearing in Danny Glover's Haitian epic
Toussaint (2008). He is also signed on to star as Lee Falk's comic strip hero
Mandrake the Magician in an upcoming movie directed by Chuck Russell, but is confirmed to star in
Shelter along with Julianne Moore for an expected 2009 release.
Rhys Meyers also has experience as a singer. He did much of his own singing in the role of rock star Brian Slade in
Velvet Goldmine, although some of these songs were replaced on the CD release of the soundtrack with alternate tracks by better-known vocalists. Rhys Meyers also sings briefly in the TV miniseries version of
The Magnificent Ambersons (film). His singing voice is also featured in his film
August Rush and on the film's soundtrack on songs "Break," "Moondance," "This Time" and "Something Inside."
Rhys Meyers was chosen as the face for the Gianni Versace S.p.A. men's collection of Autumn/Winter 2006 and Spring 2007, and he has also been the face of the Hugo Boss men's fragrance range since 2005. He is signed to Independent Models in London.
Personal life
Rhys Meyers has been romantically linked to several actresses in the past, including his
Velvet Goldmine co-star Toni Collette. The pair were together for a year following the completion of the film. Other short relationships include Rachael Leigh Cook (rumoured), Asia Argento (during the filming of B. Monkey), Irish model Glenda Gilson (rumoured), and Estella Warren (rumoured). He and co-star Scarlett Johansson both denied persistent rumors of romantic involvement while working on
Match Point. His engagement to Dublin socialite/model Cha Cha Seigne, whom he considers his first true love, ended in separation in 2002. He has also been linked to English socialite Lady Victoria Hervey in the past and dated fashion model Lisa Butcher on and off for a year, beginning in the summer of 2002, where they met in France at a party held for the film The Importance of Being Earnest.
In 2004, Rhys Meyers met Reena Hammer, London-based student and heiress to mother Ruby Hammer's cosmetics line (Ruby & Millie) and father George Hammer, owner of Urban Retreat Spa at Harrods. The relationship has been on and off through the years with frequent rumors of engagements. Ms. Hammer is often by his side for premieres, events, and at the November 2007 funeral of Jonathan's mother. They attended the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala, in New York on Monday, May 5, 2008 and were most recently seen together on June 12, 2008 attending the Monte Carlo Television Festival.
In May 2005, Rhys Meyers checked into rehab facility Promises in California seeking treatment for alcohol abuse. On 24 April 2007, the Associated Press reported that Rhys Meyers returned to treatment. The actor's representative Meredith O'Sullivan confirmed the news to People magazine citing his need to take a break from his busy schedule in order to maintain sobriety. On Sunday 18 November 2007 Rhys Meyers was arrested in Dublin Airport and charged with being drunk and in breach of the peace. He was later released on bail to appear at the Dublin District Court on 5 December 2007. He was in Dublin to promote his new movie
August Rush on the Irish television programme
Tubridy Tonight. The charges were later dropped.
On November 20, 2007, the actor's mother, Geraldine Meyers-O'Keeffe, died after being admitted to the Mercy Hospital in Cork. She was 50 years old.
He owns houses and apartments in Nichols Canyon, Los Angeles, California, Dublin, Ireland, London, England and Morocco, splitting his time between Los Angeles and London when not working.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the news
Jonathan Rhys Meyers Honored At Trinity College - Just Jared
Jonathan Rhys Meyers Honored At Trinity CollegeJust Jared, NY - 16 hours agoThe Tudors star Jonathan Rhys Meyers receives a royal welcome as he is given the Honorary Patronage award from the Trinity College Philosophical Society ...
read moreMusic is my first love: Joss Stone - NDTV.com
Music is my first love: Joss StoneNDTV.com, India - Oct 4, 2008Stone makes her small screen debut, playing Henry VIII's wife Anne of Cleves in the Jonathan Rhys-Meyers-starring period drama. ...
read moreRhys Meyers & Travolta in thriller - RTE.ie
Monsters and Critics.comRhys Meyers & Travolta in thrillerRTE.ie, Ireland - Sep 25, 2008Jonathan Rhys Meyers is to star opposite John Travolta in a new thriller called 'From Paris with Love'. Variety reports that the film has already begun ...Travolta, Meyers team up for 'Paris' United Press InternationalTravolta and Rhys Meyers send love from 'Paris' Hollywood NewsTravolta and Meyers Come From Paris With Love CanMagMonsters and Critics.com - Varietyall 15 news articles
read moreClever consort - Globe and Mail
CBC.caClever consortGlobe and Mail, Canada - Sep 30, 2008It kept sex with Jonathan Rhys Meyers in perspective. The 26-year-old British actress plays a sultry, wily Anne Boleyn to Rhys Meyers's hungry young Henry ...Enthralling Tudors deliver history lesson worth watching Ottawa CitizenShow’s creators shake up traditional costume drama Metro Canada - CalgaryAnother Boleyn girl Winnipeg SunGlobe and Mailall 19 news articles
read moreTrinity Society honour actor Meyers - The Press Association
Trinity Society honour actor MeyersThe Press Association - Sep 19, 2008Hollywood heartthrob Jonathan Rhys Meyers is set to get a royal welcome from Trinity College students in coming weeks. The Philosophical Society is to award ...
read moreHotshot Rhys Meyers quits The Tudors - Herald.ie
Showbiz IrelandHotshot Rhys Meyers quits The TudorsHerald.ie, Ireland - Sep 29, 2008By Lorna Nolan Jonathan Rhys Meyers is planning to hang up his crown by quitting hit Hollywood show The Tudors. Despite achieving enormous success with the ...Cavill Gets Krystle Savvy... Showbiz Irelandall 3 news articles
read moreJoss Stone 'not quitting music' - Digital Spy
Joss Stone 'not quitting music'Digital Spy, UK - Oct 5, 2008The soul star is to make an appearance as Anne of Cleves in The Tudors alongside Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. However, while she would love to take on more acting ...
read moreFarewell to a right royal rompathon - guardian.co.uk
Farewell to a right royal rompathonguardian.co.uk, UK - Oct 2, 2008Alternately shouting and pouting is not acting, Jonathan Rhys Meyers All kudos for looking a lot sexier in a black leather jerkin than the real Henry VIII ...
read moreJOHN TRAVOLTA, JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS TO SEND LOVE FROM 'PARI...
JOHN TRAVOLTA, JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS TO SEND LOVE FROM 'PARIS'iFMagazine - Sep 26, 2008By CHARLENE CHENG, News Editor THE SKINNY: THE TUDORS' Jonathan Rhys Meyers will be hanging up his crown for a bit to join John Travolta in Pierre Morel's ...
read moreThe men who got trapped in their movie roles - Livemint
The men who got trapped in their movie rolesLivemint, India - Oct 3, 2008But Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (the murderer from Woody Allen’s Match Point) who plays Henry VIII in The Tudors looks nothing like the Holbein portrait. ...
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