Jonathan Rhys Meyers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Meyers at the Cabourg Film Festival in June 2013
Born	Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keeffe (1977-07-27) 27 July 1977 (age 48) Cork, Ireland
Occupation	Actor singer
Years active	1994–present
Spouse(s)	Mara Lane ​ ​ (m. 2016; separated 2022)​
Children	1

Jonathan Rhys Meyers (born Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keeffe; 27 July 1977) is an Irish actor. He is famous for his roles in many films and TV shows. Some of his well-known movies include Michael Collins (1996), Bend It Like Beckham (2002), and Mission: Impossible III (2006). On television, he played Elvis Presley in the miniseries Elvis (2005), which won him a Golden Globe Award. He also starred as King Henry VIII in The Tudors (2007–10) and as Dracula in the NBC series Dracula (2013–14). More recently, he appeared as Bishop Heahmund in the TV series Vikings.

Meyers has continued to act in many films. In 2013, he played the villain Valentine Morgenstern in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. He also appeared in Stonewall (2015) and The 12th Man (2017). In 2018, he won a Best Actor award for his role in Damascus Cover. In 2020, he was recognized as one of Ireland's greatest film actors by The Irish Times.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers has also been featured in advertising campaigns for Hugo Boss. He supports several charities, including the Hope Foundation and Barretstown, a children's charity. He is married to Mara Lane, and they have one son.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Jonathan Rhys Meyers was born in Cork, Ireland, on 27 July 1977. He grew up in County Cork with his three younger brothers. His family is Catholic. He went to North Monastery Christian Brothers School.

After leaving school, he spent time in pool halls. Casting agents looking for young Irish actors for the film War of the Buttons noticed him. Even though he wasn't chosen for that film, they encouraged him to try acting.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles (1994–2004)

Jonathan O'Keeffe chose the stage name Jonathan Rhys Meyers. His first acting role was in the film A Man of No Importance (1994). In 1996, he played a sniper in Michael Collins. He also played a glam rock star in Velvet Goldmine (1998).

In 1999, he appeared in Ride with the Devil and Titus. He starred as Steerpike in the BBC series Gormenghast (2000). He played a dedicated football coach in Bend It Like Beckham (2002). In 2004, he was in Vanity Fair and played Cassander in Oliver Stone's Alexander.

Major Success with Match Point and The Tudors (2005–2017)

Meyers with Natalia Vodianova at the premiere of Belle du Seigneur in 2013

In 2005, Meyers starred in Woody Allen's drama Match Point. For this role, he received a special award at the Cannes Film Festival. That same year, he played Elvis Presley in the miniseries Elvis for CBS. This role earned him an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe win. In 2006, he appeared in Mission: Impossible III.

He then took on the role of Henry VIII in The Tudors (2007). This TV series was a big success. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for this role in 2007.

Other projects during this time include August Rush (2007), The Children of Huang Shi (2008), and From Paris with Love (2010). In 2011, he starred as Solal in Belle du Seigneur, a film based on a famous novel.

In 2013, Meyers was cast as Dracula in the NBC television series Dracula. In October 2014, he received The Irish Post Legend Award. This award recognized his achievements in film and television over 20 years. In 2017, he starred in Black Butterfly and later joined the cast of Vikings as Bishop Heahmund.

Recent Films and Diverse Roles (2018–Present)

Meyers played the main character in the spy thriller Damascus Cover. This film premiered in 2017 and was released in 2018. He won Best Actor awards at the Boston and Manchester International Festival for this role.

He also played Patrick Pearse, a historical figure from Ireland, in the film The Rising. In 2020, Meyers appeared in Edge of the World, a film about the explorer Sir James Brooke. He also had the lead role in American Nights, a thriller.

In 2021, he starred as Shiro in Yakuza Princess, an action thriller. He also appeared in the horror-thriller Hide and Seek. In 2022, he starred in The Good Neighbour and Wifelike. In 2023, he was in the thriller "Disquiet" and the hijacking thriller 97 Minutes.

Musical Talents

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a self-taught singer and guitarist. He has shown his musical skills in several roles. In Velvet Goldmine, he sang two songs, "Baby's on Fire" and "Tumbling Down," which are on the film's soundtrack. He also sang briefly in The Magnificent Ambersons and played the flute in Gormenghast.

In the 2007 music drama August Rush, he played a singer-songwriter named Louis Connelly. He performed four songs for the soundtrack: "Break," "Moondance," "Something Inside," and "This Time." "This Time" was a popular song, reaching number 84 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.

Personal Life

Mara Lane and Jonathan Rhys Meyers in 2019

Jonathan Rhys Meyers married Mara Lane in 2016. Their son was born in December 2016.

Awards and Recognition

On 5 October 2008, Meyers received an Honorary Patronage from the Trinity College Philosophical Society in Dublin. In 2014, he was honored with the Legend Award at The Irish Post Awards. This award recognized his important contributions to the film and entertainment industry.

Charity Work

In February 2008, Jonathan Rhys Meyers became an ambassador for the Hope Foundation. This charity, based in his hometown of Cork, helps street children in Calcutta, India.

He is also an ambassador for Barretstown, an Irish children’s charity. Barretstown supports children who are affected by serious illnesses. In 2019, he and fellow actor Aidan Gillen helped launch Barretstown's "Press Play" campaign. This campaign aimed to raise more money to help more children and their families.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers para niños