Jonathan Rhys Meyers Biography:
Born on July 27, 1977 in Dublin, Ireland, Jonathan Rhys Meyers grew up with his mother and 3 younger brothers in County Cork, Ireland. He resided in an orphanage for some time and was removed from school when he was sixteen years old. After being expelled, he spent most of his time hanging out in a pool hall, where he eventually caught the eye of Hubbard Casting. His very first audition was for a role in the 1994 film, War of the Buttons, but unfortunately, was turned down, leading Rhys Meyers to abandon his acting career temporarily. He was able to gain some popularity when he appeared in a campaign for Knorr soup, and eventually landed a lead role in the movie Disappearance of Finbar. Since then, Rhys Meyers has appeared in numerous motion pictures, such as Maker, Telling Lies in America, The Tribe, Governess and Ride with the Devil. Among his many recognitions include a London Film Critics Circle Award nomination for his work on Velvet Goldmine, a Golden Globe Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie and an Emmy nomination for his performance in Elvis and a Chopard trophy award for Male Revelation for his work in Woody Allen’s Matchpoint. Currently, Rhys Meyers is starring in Showtime’s historical drama series, The Tudors.
King Henry VIII is played by Jonathan Ryhs Meyers on the show, The Tudors. The son of Henry VII and Elizabeth York, King Henry VIII is married off to Catherine of Aragon on his father’s hopes of uniting England and Spain. Intelligent and highly-driven, he introduces the idea of Humanism into his kingdom by appointing Thomas Wolsey and Sir Thomas More into office. His athleticism is also apparent, as he is quite talented in jousting, hunting and real tennis. His other interests include music, poetry and his mistress, Anne Boleyn.
(Photo courtesy of Showtime)