Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers first gained notoriety for his lead role in Todd Haynes’ “Velvet Goldmine” (1998), a surreal examination of 1970s glam rock in which he portrayed a sort of fictional hybrid of David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Meyers gave captivating performances in several controversial and little-seen films including Ang Lee’s “Ride with the Devil” (1999) and the screen adaptation of “Prozac Nation” (2000) before receiving a profile boost in the British hit “Bend it Like Beckham” (2004). Following an Emmy and Golden Globe nominated performance as “Elvis” (2005) in the miniseries of the same name, Rhys Meyers began to appear in high profile American features “Match Point” (2005) and “Mission: Impossible III (2006). For his challenging work portraying voracious King Henry VIII in Showtime’s “Tudor” (2007) Rhys Meyers received his second Golden Globe nomination.
Born Jonathan Michael Francis O’Keeffe on July 27, 1977 in Dublin, Ireland, Rhys Meyers was raised in Cork, where he was thrown out of school at age 15 and worked the streets as a young grifter. Acting entered his life when he was spotted by a casting director cruising local pool halls for teens to appear in “The War of the Buttons” (1994). A lucky break put Rhys Meyers on the acting path, but it was his own dogged determination that brought him a fruitful career even after he failed at his audition for "The War of the Buttons." The event spurred the headstrong teenager to prove he could succeed in the field, beginning his relentless pursuit of work and steady stream of auditions. His first job was in a Knorr soup commercial! Soon after, he made his first big screen appearance with a bit part in 1994's "A Man of No Importance.”
Rhys Meyers followed up with a more significant role, the title character in little-seen "The Disappearance of Finbar" (1996), before landing the notable role as the assassin of Irish revolutionary "Michael Collins" in the 1996 Neil Jordan film. The young actor kept busy with the fantasy/comedy feature "The Killer Tongue,” a 1996 Spanish/English co-production, and made his U.S. television debut that same year as a young Samson in TNT's biblical epic, "Samson and Delilah.” In "The Maker” (HBO, 1997), Rhys Meyers was a teenager whose long-lost older brother (Matthew Modine) turns him on to a life of crime; a role that showcased the actor's ability to quickly learn and capably deliver an American accent. Also that year, he was featured as a relentless bully torturing Brad Renfro in "Telling Lies in America,” Guy Ferland's look at the 1960s radio payola scandal. The controversial British television movie "The Tribe" (1998) followed shortly before he undertook the notable role of a young man in a wealthy 19th Century English family who competes with his father for the affections of "The Governess,” a Sephardic Jewish woman posing as a gentile. While the film was somewhat formulaic, Rhys Meyers was riveting as the rebellious and misguided love-struck child of privilege.
Next up for the young actor was a featured turn in Todd Haynes' highly stylized "Velvet Goldmine" (1998), an engagingly indulgent look at early 1970s glam rock. Rhys Meyers starred as fictional pop icon Brian Slade, a fast-rising star whose descent was even quicker, following a botched publicity stunt, wherein he faked his death. Perfectly suited for the role due to his appropriately lithe and lanky frame and sexually ambiguous beauty, the actor delivered an emotionally understated performance but served as an interesting contrast to the vibrant visuals and theatrical music. Rhys Meyers capably handled the character's transitions from struggling visionary to up-and-coming hot property to crazed fallen star done in by a broken heart and an out-of-control ego. Playing opposite Ewan McGregor's Iggy Pop-esque Curt Wild in one of the more unexpectedly sweet (and remarkably attractive) romantic screen pairings, Rhys Meyers did much of his own singing in "Velvet Goldmine,” and camped it up most impressively in several music video scenes interspersed throughout. That film, along with an off screen liaison with co-star Toni Collette, raised the young actor's profile considerably, with the press coverage surrounding the fashionable film landing him in dozens of British magazines.
Generating less buzz was his featured role in Mike Figgis' "The Loss of Sexual Innocence" (1999) and his unsettling turn as the volatile young boyfriend and criminal partner of Rupert Everett in Michael Radford's "B. Monkey" (filmed in 1996; released in the USA in 1999). Higher profile projects followed in 1999, including a memorable supporting role as a sadistic and unstable Bushwacker in Ang Lee's Civil War-era Western "Ride with the Devil” (1999). Rhys Meyers delivered an admirable reproduction of the archetypal villainous Southern accent and gave an appropriately chilling performance in this well-made but long-winded feature. He next gave a strong co-starring turn opposite Anthony Hopkins, playing Chiron, son of Tamora (Jessica Lange), in "Titus" (also 1999), Julie Taymor's contemporary take on the minor Shakespeare tragedy, “Titus Andronicus.”
The actor continued to work steadily on both sides of the pond, frequently appearing in high-profile films including Christina Ricci's long-delayed adaptation of "Prozac Nation" (2001); as the central character George Amberson in Alfonso Arau's telepic adaptation of author Booth Tarkington's — and legendary director Orson Welles' — "The Magnificent Ambersons" (2002); and as Joe, the romantic Irish soccer coach, in the smash Brit import "Bend It Like Beckham" (2002). After distinguished turns in the TV movie adaptation of "The Lion in Winter" (2003) opposite Patrick Stewart and the Netherlands-produced fantasy-romance "The Emperor's Wife" (2003), Rhys Meyers had a banner year in 2004, with roles in director Mike Hodges' noirish "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" opposite Clive Owen and in director Mira Nair's adaptation of Thackeray's "Vanity Fair" starring Reese Witherspoon.
After an acclaimed performance as the King of Rock and Roll in the popular CBS miniseries "Elvis" (2005) — for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television – the actor delivered one of his finest performances to date when he appeared in writer-director Woody Allen's high-minded morality drama "Match Point" (2005). In the drama, he played a social-climbing tennis pro in London who would "rather be lucky than good" but finds his comfortable, status-granting marriage to a doting wife (Emily Mortimer) imperiled by a torrid affair with a sensual but demanding American actress (Scarlett Johansson).
In “Mission: Impossible III” (2006), Rhys Meyers was part of Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) field team trying to rescue an operative (Keri Russell) from a remorseless weapons dealer (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Still on a roll, the actor took his first stab at television, playing King Henry VIII in Showtime’s 10-part series “The Tudors” (2007- ), a lavish, detailed production depicting the brutal monarch before his break from the Catholic Church and the expansion of his waistline. Rhys Meyers portrayed the typically portly king in the days when he was an accomplished sportsman, avid gambler and unrelenting womanizer, and for his sizeable efforts earned a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination in 2008. He repeated the feat the following year, earning his second consecutive Golden Globe nod in the category, though he faced stiff competition from Hugh Laurie and Jon Hamm.
Also Credited As: Jonathan Michael Francis O Keeffe, Jonathan Michael Francis O'KeeffeBorn: Jonathan Michael Francis O Keeffe on July 27, 1977 in Dublin, IrelandJob Titles: ActorFamily
Brother: Alan O Keeffe. Raised with Jonathan by mother, Geraldine; perform with brothers in the band Suzy s Field
Brother: Jamie O Keefe. Raised by paternal grandmother; perform with brothers in the band Suzy s Field
Brother: Paul O Keeffe. Raised by paternal grandmother; perform with brothers in the band Suzy s Field
Father: John O Keeffe. Father left when Jonathan was young and the family of four boys was split up
Mother: Geraldine Myers. Raised sons Jonathan and Alan; died Nov. 20, 2007 after a short illness
Significant Others
Companion: Chacha Seigne. Dated Dublin Socialite for four years; no longer together
Companion: Reena Hammer. Studying English Literature; father owns The Spain Harrods; currently dating
Companion: Toni Collette. Velvet Goldmine co-star; dated for 12 months; no longer together
Companion: Toni Collette. no longer together
Milestones
1994 Made feature debut in a bit role in A Man of No Importance
1996 Appeared in the quirky fantasy-comedy The Killer Tongue
1996 Filmed B. Monkey starring as the twisted boyfriend of Rupert Everett s Paul (released in the USA in 1999)
1996 First significant part, Finbar in The Disappearance of Finbar
1996 Had pivotal role as the assassin in Neil Jordan s Michael Collins
1996 Portrayed the young Samson in the TNT TV-movie Samson and Delilah
1997 Co-starred with Matthew Modine in The Maker ; aired on HBO in the USA
1997 Played Kevin Boyle, the leader of a gang that bullies Brad Renfro, in Telling Lies in America
1998 Appeared in the British TV-movie The Tribe
1998 Had featured role as the lovestruck teenage son of a wealthy British family in the 19th Century-set drama The Governess
1998 Starred as fictional glam-rock icon Brian Slade in Todd Haynes Velvet Goldmine ; also performed songs for the soundtrack
1999 Cast by Ang Lee in the Civil War drama Ride With the Devil, playing a ruthless killer
1999 Featured alongside Jessica Lange in Titus, famed theater director Julie Taymor s feature directorial debut
1999 Played the younger incarnation of Julian Sands documentary filmmaker in Mike Figgis The Loss of Sexual Innocence
2002 Had featured role in the A&E miniseries version of The Magnificent Ambersons
2002 Starred as the coach of a girls football (soccer) team in Bend It Like Beckham
2003 Cast in the feature based on the best selling novel Prozac Nation
2004 Co-starred with Colin Farrell in Oliver Stone s Alexander
2004 Starred opposite Clive Owen in I ll Sleep When I m Dead
2005 Played a former tennis pro opposite Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen s Match Point
2005 Portrayed American icon Elvis Presley in the CBS TV movie, Elvis ; earned an Emmy nomination for Best Actor
2006 Cast in the J.J. Abrams-helmed Mission: Impossible III, opposite Tom Cruise
2007 Cast as Henry VIII in the Showtime series, The Tudors ; earned Golden Globe (2008, 2009) nominations for Best Actor in a Drama Series
2007 Co-starred with Jonathan Keri Russell and Freddie Highmore in the child-prodigy drama, August Rush
First professional work, landed role in a Knorr soup commercial
Grew up in Cork, Ireland; discovered by Hubbard Casting in a pool hall there
Unsuccessfully auditioned for the lead in the feature The War of the Buttons
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