Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Jonathan Rhys Meyers | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keefe 27 July 1977 Dublin, Ireland |
Occupation(s) | Actor, producer |
Years active | 1994–present |
Jonathan Rhys Meyers (born Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keefe; 27 July 1977) is an Irish actor. 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.[1][2] He has been the face model for several Hugo Boss fragrances advertising campaigns.[3]
In 2013, Myers 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. Rhys Meyers has also been cast in the upcoming film Stonewall by Roland Emmerich. Also cast in Damascus Cover based on the best selling novel The Damascus Cover by Howard Kaplan. Also Byrd and the Bees, a romantic comedy.
Early life
He was born 27 July 1977 in Dublin, Ireland to Geraldine (née Meyers; died 20 November 2007) and musician John O'Keeffe.[4][5] His family is Roman Catholic.[6] His three brothers are all professional musicians.[7] When he was three, his parents separated. His mother raised the boy along with his brother Alan while the other two boys went to live at their paternal grandmother's home with their father.[8] He has two half sisters. He briefly attended North Monastery Christian Brothers School.[9]
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.[10] Although passed over for War of the Buttons, the casting agents encouraged him to pursue a career in acting.[11] His first film role came in A Man of No Importance (1994). 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 (2000) and in the CBS 4-hour mini-series Elvis (2005) 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.[12] The latter earned him an Emmy[13] nomination and a Golden Globe win.[14] He starred in the CBC/Showtime co-production The Tudors (2007) as Henry VIII. He was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Drama in 2007 for the role.[15]
He played a David Bowie-inspired glam rock star in Velvet Goldmine (1998), a dedicated girls' football coach in Bend It Like Beckham (2002), in Vanity Fair (2004) 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 (2005), 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 (2007) and The Children of Huang Shi (2008), Shelter and From Paris with Love (2010)[16]
In 2011, he starred in Belle du Seigneur (an English-language film adaptation of Albert Cohen's novel) 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 ("Baby's on Fire" and "Tumbling Down") 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. [citation needed]
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.[17] "This Time" was not released as a single but peaked at number 84 in the Canadian Hot 100.[18]
Besides acting, Jonathan has also modelled for several clothing companies. He modelled for Club Monaco in 2001 and was chosen as the face for the Versace men's collection of Autumn/Winter 2006 and Spring 2007,[19] and he was the face of the Hugo Boss men's fragrance range from 2006[20] until he was replaced with Jared Leto in 2011. He is signed to Independent Models in London.[21] In February 2008, he became a celebrity ambassador for the Cork-based charitable organisation The Hope Foundation.[22] On 5 October 2008, Rhys Meyers received an Honorary Patronage from the Trinity College Philosophical Society in Dublin.[23]
In 2013, Rhys Meyers was cast as Dracula, in NBC's television series Dracula alongside with Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Jessica De Gouw.[24] 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.[25][26][27] Dated Victoria Keon-Cohen in 2012. Currently in a relationship with actress Mara Lane since 2014.
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.[28][29]
On 20 November 2007, his mother, Mary Geraldine "Geri" O'Keeffe, died at Mercy University Hospital, Cork, aged 51, following a short, undisclosed illness.[30] Her funeral was attended by "hundreds of mourners" including film director Neil Jordan and actors Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell.[31]
On 27 February 2009, the actor checked into rehab a third time, seeking help for alcohol addiction; and checked out on 15 March 2009.[32] 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[33][34] at John F. Kennedy airport.[35]
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.[36]
Filmography
Film
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | A Man of No Importance | First Young Man | |
1996 | The Killer Tongue | Rudolph | |
1996 | The Disappearance of Finbar | Finbar Flynn | |
1996 | Michael Collins | Collins's assassin | |
1996 | Samson and Delilah | Young Samson | Television film |
1997 | The Maker | Josh Minnell | |
1997 | Telling Lies in America | Kevin Boyle | |
1998 | Velvet Goldmine | Brian Slade | Nominated—London Critics Circle Film Award for British Newcomer of the Year |
1998 | The Governess | Henry Cavendish | |
1998 | B. Monkey | Bruno | |
1998 | The Tribe | Adam | |
1999 | The Loss of Sexual Innocence | Young Nic | |
1999 | Ride with the Devil | Pitt Mackeson | |
1999 | Titus | Chiron | |
2001 | Prozac Nation | Noah | |
2001 | Tangled | Alan Hammond | |
2001 | Happy Now | Mark Wraith | |
2002 | Bend It Like Beckham | Joe | |
2002 | The Magnificent Ambersons | George Amberson Minafer | Television film |
2003 | The Tesseract | Sean | |
2003 | Octane | The Father | |
2003 | I'll Sleep When I'm Dead | Davey Graham | |
2003 | The Emperor's Wife | Chamberlain | |
2003 | The Lion in Winter | King Philip II | Television film |
2004 | Vanity Fair | Captain George Osborne | |
2004 | Alexander | Cassander | |
2005 | Elvis | Elvis Presley | Television film Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie |
2005 | Match Point | Chris Wilton | |
2006 | Mission: Impossible III | Declan Gormley | |
2007 | August Rush | Louis Connelly | |
2008 | The Children of Huang Shi | George Hogg | |
2008 | A Film with Me in It | Pierce 2 | Cameo |
2010 | Shelter | Adam / David / Wesley | Re-released in 2013 under the title 6 Souls. |
2010 | From Paris with Love | James Reese | |
2011 | Albert Nobbs | Viscount Yarrell | |
2012 | Belle du Seigneur | Solal | |
2013 | The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones | Valentine Morgenstern | |
2014 | Another Me | John Moffatt | |
2015 | Stonewall | Trevor | Post-production |
2015 | Byrd and the Bees | Gavin McDermott | Pre-production |
2015 | The Damascus Cover | Ari | Pre-production |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Gormenghast | Steerpike | 4 episodes |
2007–2010 | The Tudors | King Henry VIII | 38 episodes Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor on Television Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama (2008–09) Nominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2009–11) Nominated—Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor on Television (2009–11) |
2013–2014 | Dracula | Dracula / Alexander Grayson | 10 episodes Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series |
Awards and nominations
Year | Group | Award | Result | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | London Critics Circle Film Awards | British Newcomer of the Year | Nominated | Velvet Goldmine |
2002 | Venice Film Festival | Canal Grande Award for the Best Young Promising Actor | Won | The Magnificent Ambersons |
2005 | Satellite Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Won | Elvis |
2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Nominated | Elvis |
2005 | Cannes Film Festival | Outstanding Newcomer | Won | Match Point |
2006 | GQ UK | Men of the Year Awards / Lab Series Man of the Year | Won | |
2006 | Golden Globes Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Won | Elvis |
2008 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Outstanding Actor – Drama Series | Won | The Tudors |
2008 | Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television | Won | The Tudors |
2008 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Nominated | The Tudors |
2009 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Outstanding Actor – Drama Series | Nominated | The Tudors |
2009 | Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television | Nominated | The Tudors |
2009 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Nominated | The Tudors |
2010 | Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television | Nominated | The Tudors |
2010 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Outstanding Actor – Drama Series | Nominated | The Tudors |
2011 | Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Outstanding Actor – Drama Series | Nominated | The Tudors |
2011 | Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Actor in a Lead Role in Television | Nominated | The Tudors |
2014 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Actor in a New TV Series | Nominated | DraculaReferences |
2014 Irish Post Award Received Legend award for 20 year contribution to films and television.
- ^ Monroe, Justin. "Reign Man", Complex, October 2007; Retrieved 10 April 2008.
- ^ Wolf, Matt. "Earning an 'A' for Androgyny on the Screen", New York Times, 13 September 1998; retrieved 10 April 2008.
- ^ "Hugo Fragrances – Eau de Parfum – Hugo by Hugo Boss". Hugo. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ Jonathan Rhys Meyers Film Reference
- ^ "Meyers biography". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ Waxman, Sharon (6 November 2005). "At Home in Oliver's Macedonia and Woody's London". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "Jersey – Entertainment – the OKs". BBC. 30 August 2005.
- ^ Moore, Victoria (24 November 2007). "The troubling truth about Jonathan Rhys Meyers". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ Roche, Barry (7 April 2011). "Council celebrates 200th anniversary of North Monastery school's founding". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Comment:a chameleon from Cork who can pass for the King". The Sunday Times. 22 January 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ "Jonathan Rhys Meyers profile at Yahoo! Movies". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ^ "In Step With: Jonathan Rhys Meyers". Parade Magazine. 1 May 2005.
- ^ Jonathan Rhys Meyers Emmy Award Nominee
- ^ "2006 Golden Globe Awards Nominations & Winners", HFPA, January 2006; Retrieved 14 April 2008.
- ^ "2008 Golden Globe Awards Nominations & Winners", HFPA, January 2008; Retrieved 14 April 2008.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy "EuropaCorp begins shoot on From Paris With Love", Screen Daily, 23 September 2008; Retrieved 24 September 2008.
- ^ "59 Songs Tune Up for 2007 Oscar", Oscars.org, 12 December 2007
- ^ "Jonathan Rhys Meyers – This Time", aCharts.us. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ Dolly Jones (19 July 2006). "Versace's Irish tipple". Vogue. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "Jonathan Rhys-Meyers endorses Hugo Boss". Starpulse.com. 25 August 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ Rhys Meyers profile at independent.codegent.org
- ^ "Rhys Meyers to help Calcutta children", RTÉ Entertainment, 18 February 2008; Retrieved 6 October 2008.
- ^ "Trinity College to honour Rhys Meyers". Irish Examiner. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "'Dracula' NBC TV show official trailer released". Hypable. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ Eden, Richard (21 November 2009). "Marriage to Jonathan Rhys Meyers 'would be lovely', says Reena Hammer". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "'Get help or I'll dump you': Jonathan Rhys Meyers returns to rehab after girlfriend issues ultimatum". Daily Mail. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ Tim Walker (18 January 2013). "Jonathan Rhys Meyer's former girlfriend finds a man she can bank on". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "Jonathan Rhys Meyers checks into rehab". RTÉ. 24 April 2007.
- ^ Ray McDonald (30 April 2007). "Actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers Enters Rehab". VOA News. Voice of America. Retrieved 25 December 2008.
- ^ "Rhys Meyers's mother dies in hospital". Irish Examiner. 21 November 2007.
- ^ "'Actor buries his mother'". The Sun. 23 November 2007.
- ^ "Rhys Meyers goes to rehab ... again". NY Daily News. 28 February 2009.
- ^ "'Tudors' star Jonathan Rhys Meyers used N-word in airport altercation". Entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ "Tudors star Jonathan Rhys Meyers in 'N word' airport bust-up". The Sun. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ "Jonathan Rhys Meyers BANNED From United Airlines Flight". Huffington Post. 14 May 2010.
- ^ "Jonathan Rhys Meyers fined for threatening To kill French policemen". MSN. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)