Jonathan Rhys Meyers is an Irish actor and model.
He is best known for his roles in the films, Velvet Goldmine, Mission Impossible III, Bend
It Like Beckham, Match Point and his television roles as Elvis Presley in the biographical
miniseries Elvis, which earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor, and as King Henry VIII
in the historical drama The Tudors.
He has been the face model for several Hugo Boss fragrances advertising campaigns.
In 2013, he appeared as the villain, Valentine Morgenstern in The Mortal Instruments: City
of Bones, based on Cassandra Clare's novel, City of Bones.
He most recently starred in the NBC drama series Dracula as the titular character and
next up for Jonathan is The Secret Scripture based on the novel by Sebastian Barry
Early life He was born in Drimnagh, County Dublin to
Mary Geraldine "Geri" and musician John O'Keeffe.
His family is Roman Catholic.
He moved with his family to Cork at age one and was raised there with his three younger
brothers, Jamie, Alan, and Paul, who are all professional musicians.
When he was three, his parents separated.
His mother raised Rhys Meyers and his brother Alan while his other two brothers went to
live at their paternal grandmother's home with their father.
He briefly attended North Monastery Christian Brothers School.
Career He was expelled from North Monastery at 16
for truancy and spent much of his time hanging out in pool halls.
Casting agents looking for Irish boys to appear in War of the Buttons spotted him at a Cork
pool hall, the Victoria Sporting Club, and invited him to audition.
Although passed over for War of the Buttons, the casting agents encouraged him to pursue
a career in acting.
His first film role came in A Man of No Importance.
In 1996, he appeared in Michael Collins, as the title character's assassin.
In 1999, he appeared in Ride with the Devil as psychopathic guerrilla fighter Pitt Mackeson.
Rhys Meyers has starred in television series including Gormenghast and in the CBS 4-hour
mini-series Elvis as Elvis Presley alongside Randy Quaid as Colonel Tom Parker and Rose
McGowan as Ann-Margret, but didn't sing for his role in the miniseries.
The latter earned him an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe win.
He starred in the CBC/Showtime co-production The Tudors as Henry VIII.
He was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Drama in 2007 for
the role.
He played a David Bowie-inspired glam rock star in Velvet Goldmine, a dedicated girls'
football coach in Bend It Like Beckham, in Vanity Fair opposite Reese Witherspoon.
He co-starred in 2004 in Oliver Stone's epic Alexander.
The following year he starred in Woody Allen's film noir, Match Point, for which he received
a Chopard Trophy at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2006, he appeared in Mission: Impossible III.
Subsequent projects include August Rush and The Children of Huang Shi, Shelter and From
Paris with Love In 2011, he starred in Belle du Seigneur as
Solal des Solal.
The movie was released in Russia on 29 November 2012 and in France on 19 June 2013 after premiering
at the Champs Elysees Film Festival.
A self-taught singer and guitarist, he has appeared in a number of musical roles.
His first such role was as "Brian Slade" in Velvet Goldmine; two of the songs he sang
are on the film's soundtrack.
He sang briefly in the TV miniseries version of The Magnificent Ambersons, performed in
studio scenes of the miniseries Elvis and played the flute in Gormenghast.
In the 2007 music drama August Rush, he performed on-screen as singer-songwriter Louis Connelly
and is credited for four songs on the soundtrack – "Break", "Moondance", "Something Inside",
and "This Time".
Of the four, "This Time" and "Break" were considered in the Best Original Song category
of the 80th Academy Awards.
"This Time" was not released as a single but peaked at number 84 in the Canadian Hot 100.
Besides acting, Jonathan has also modeled for several clothing companies.
He modeled for Club Monaco in 2001 and was chosen as the face for the Versace men's collection
of Autumn/Winter 2006 and Spring 2007, and he was the face of the Hugo Boss men's fragrance
range from 2006 until he was replaced with Jared Leto in 2011.
He is signed to Independent Models in London.
In February 2008, he became a celebrity ambassador for the Cork-based charitable organization
The Hope Foundation.
On 5 October 2008, Rhys Meyers received an Honorary Patronage from the Trinity College
Philosophical Society in Dublin.
In 2013, Rhys Meyers was cast as Dracula, in NBC's television series Dracula alongside
with Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Jessica De Gouw.
It was also announced in May 2013 that Jonathan was to participate in the recording of his
brothers album entitled "Blossom" which was released on 21 April 2014.
Personal life From 2004 until 2012, Rhys Meyers was in a
relationship with Reena Hammer, daughter of makeup artist Ruby Hammer.
In May 2005, Rhys Meyers checked into a rehabilitation facility, Promises in Malibu, 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 to maintain sobriety.
On 20 November 2007, his mother, Mary Geraldine "Geri" O'Keeffe, died at Mercy University
Hospital, Cork, aged 51, following a short, undisclosed illness.
Her funeral was attended by "hundreds of mourners" including film director Neil Jordan and actors
Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell.
On 27 February 2009, the actor checked into rehab a third time, seeking help for alcohol
addiction; and checked out on 15 March 2009.
In May 2010, it was reported that Rhys Meyers was banned for life from flying on United
Airlines due to "belligerent" and "disruptive" behaviour including reported use of a racial
slur in an incident involving alcohol at John F. Kennedy airport.
In November 2011, Rhys Meyers was ordered by a French court to pay a restitution of
€1,000 and was given a judgment of a suspended sentence for public intoxication 24 months
earlier.
Filmography Film
Television Awards
References
External links Jonathan Rhys Meyers at the Internet Movie
Database Jonathan Rhys Meyers at Emmys.com