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| Birth Name(s) : John O'Keefe |
Date of Birth: July 27, 1977 |
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| Profession:
Actor |
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Full Jonathan Rhys Meyers Biography
Jonathan Rhys Meyers was born July 27, 1977 in Dublin, Ireland. He and his family moved to County Cork, Ireland when the actor was nearly a year old, and then at the age of 3, his father left the family, leaving his mother to care for Jonny and his 3 younger brothers alone.
Rhys Meyers grew up with a tumultuous childhood, spending some time in an orphanage and being permanently expelled from school at age 16. Happy to be out of school he began spending time in a local pool hall where he was discovered by Hubbard Casting. The casting agents were talent-spotting for the David Puttnam production of War of the Buttons (1994), and asked Meyers to appear for an audition. After three days of auditions he did not get the role, and Meyers gave up on his acting aspirations. However, he soon received a call to audition for a national ad campaign for Knorr soup, and though embarrassed by the attention and ad, he soon found himself considered for a major film.
His movie acting debut was a very small role in the film, Man of No Importance, A (1994), where his simple cast credit is as 'First Young Man'. He received his first lead role was in the film, Disappearance of Finbar, The (1996). During a 6 month postponement in filming he returned home to Cork and there received a call about the film Michael Collins (1996). He traveled to Dublin to meet with director 'Neil Jordon' and successfully won the role of Collins' assassin. Jordon wrote about his meeting with the actor, "I have found someone to play Collin's killer. Jonathan Rees-Myers (sic), from County Cork apparently, who looks like a young Tom Cruise. Comes into the casting session with alarming certainty. Obviously gifted."
Rhys Meyers continued working constantly from that point and appeared in such films as, Maker, The (1997), Telling Lies in America (1997), and Tribe, The (1998) (TV). Going on to film, Governess, The (1998), B. Monkey (1998), Titus (1999) and Ride with the Devil (1999/I), he has received critical acclaim for several performances, most notably as Brian Slade in Velvet Goldmine (1998), and as Steerpike in the British mini series "Gormenghast" (2000) (mini). Rhys Meyers is also a talented singer and musician, having performed his own vocals in the film Velvet Goldmine and appearing on the film's soundtrack. Rhys Meyers still resides in County Cork, Ireland. |
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Additional Jonathan Rhys Meyers Biography
Meyers was born Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keeffe in Dublin, Ireland to Geraldine Meyers and John O'Keeffe. His stage name is derived from his mother's maiden name, Meyers.
Rhys Meyers was born with a serious heart problem and was baptised 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, Ireland where his family moved to when he was a few months old. He has three younger brothers named Jamie, Alan and 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 would not be in close contact for some years.
When Rhys Meyers was a teenager, he befriended an Anglo-Irish gentleman farmer. He was taken in by the farmer and his family and went to live with them in at their home in Buttevant.
Rhys Meyers was expelled from school at age 16, 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 Rhys Meyers at a Cork pool hall, the Victoria Sporting Club, and invited him to audition. Although he was passed over for War of the Buttons, 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, as Collins' assassin.
His film roles range from a David Bowie-inspired glam rock star in Velvet Goldmine (1998) to a dedicated girls' football coach in Bend It Like Beckham (2002). He appeared in Vanity Fair (2004) alongside Reese Witherspoon. In 2005, Rhys Meyers starred in Woody Allen's film Match Point, 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 in talks to play Branwell Bronte in the movie Bronte (2007 film), and is rumored to be appearing in Danny Glover's Haitian epic Toussaint (2008).
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. His singing voice is also featured in his upcoming film August Rush.
Rhys Meyers was chosen as the "face" for the Versace men's collection of Autumn/Winter 2006 and Spring 2007. He is the new face of the men's fragrance Hugo by Hugo Boss.
In January of 2007, Rhys Meyers checked into an undisclosed rehab facility seeking treatment for alcohol abuse. On April 24, 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. |
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