Jonathan Rhys Meyers Biography
Jonathan Rhys Meyers is an Irish-born Hollywood actor who shot to worldwide fame with his starring role in the musical biographical drama "Elvis." His powerhouse portrayal of Elvis Presley earned Jonathan a Golden Globe and the Chopard award at the Cannes Film Festival. In another career-defining role, Meyers captivated audiences as Henry VIII in the hit series "The Tudors," once again earning critical acclaim.
Childhood, Youth, Family
Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keeffe was born in the summer of 1977 to Dublin natives Mary Geraldine O'Keeffe and John O'Keeffe. Born two months premature, he was fighting for his life. His parents were not married at the time. When doctors delivered a grim prognosis and urged them to quickly name and baptize their son, his parents rushed to marry in the Church of Saint Peter in Cork before following through.
But the actor's father's true love was always folk music. He mentioned in an interview:
Eventually, he left his wife and sons to pursue his musical dreams, though he stayed in touch and visited when he could. His mother and wife split childcare duties, with two boys living with their mother and two with their grandmother.Those were hard days. I was 21 years old, and I already had four children. Music didn't bring money, and I had to spend a lot of time away from home.
At sixteen, the future actor was kicked out of school for constantly skipping classes. He landed a job at a bar where wealthy patrons came to unwind and shoot pool. That's where wealthy farmer Christopher Crofts spotted the young man and invited Jonathan to help out on his farm in Buttevant Co Cork. The relationship grew so close that the Crofts began calling Jonathan their son - and he still considers their home his real family home.As a child, I spent a lot of time pretending to be someone else - playing, imagining. Growing up in the eighties wasn't that exciting, so I had to create this secret life where I could be someone else. You pretend you can be anyone and live in this dream world. So acting comes naturally to me. I was always acting as a kid - not professionally, just to get into trouble and then get out of it.
Acting Career
Jonathan made his film debut with a small role in "A Man of No Importance" (1994). Just a couple of years later, he landed the lead in the mystical drama "The Disappearance of Finbar".
At the turn of the millennium, Rhys Meyers brilliantly brought the main villain Steerpike to life in the TV series "Gormenghast.""Velvet Goldmine" was a difficult film. People expected a commercial movie, but Todd Haynes' film is eccentric: he is a philosopher with a camera. He is one of the few directors who implement their idea on screen without sparing expenses… I felt wooden and limited. It was very tiring to shoot. I remember one moment where it was too much. In a scene with Ewan McGregor: he in his cool leather suit, and me in my ridiculous polka dot one, everything fell out of my hands. And I said: "I look like a Christmas tree, and he looks like the god of Rock!"
Jonathan Rhys Meyers' Personal Life
The actor, often ranked among Hollywood's most attractive stars, has always been choosy about relationships. Despite constant rumors linking him to co-stars, Jonathan has never confirmed any relationships, though beauties like Katie McGrath, Marinika Smirnova, and Scarlett Johansson have all been rumored girlfriends.
Soon after, Jonathan was spotted with Australian model Victoria Keon-Cohen, but their romance lasted less than a year.
In 2020, the actor was caught drunk driving and had a car accident. He was fined $500 and received a 12-month probation period.We have heartbreaking news: Jonathan and I lost our second child. We were so excited for him, especially Jonathan, who's taking this incredibly hard. Now we're trying to cope with our grief. It's hard to battle depression when you're struggling with addiction. But Jonathan is the strongest person I know. He turns his problems and pain into art. I don't know anyone who's endured what he has and still achieved so much success.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers Now
Despite his ongoing struggles with alcohol, Jonathan continues to be a sought-after actor in Hollywood. Summer 2022 saw the premiere of the thriller "The Aspern Papers," starring Jonathan in the lead role.
2023 was a busy year for the actor, appearing in several films: the thrillers "97 Minutes" and "Ambush," the horror movie "Disquiet," and the action film "Mercy."He starts as a human. She starts as artificial intelligence. By the movie's end, he's become AI while she's become human. The story is about this transcendence. It's about how one man loses his humanity while one woman gains hers. I was very interested in this twist of fate.
Interesting Facts
- Jonathan's younger brothers live with their father in Jersey. All three of them became professional musicians, working in the band Suzy's Field. Jamie is the drummer, and Alan and Paul are guitarists. Jonathan once joked that unlike his brothers, he has no musical talent, but he actually plays the flute and can sing: he performed all the vocal parts himself in the movie "Velvet Goldmine".
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Ballad of Maxwell Demon - Jonathan used his first major movie paycheck to buy his mother a spacious home. Despite their complicated relationship during his teens, Jonathan loved Mary Geraldine dearly and was devastated by her death in 2012.
- Neighbors describe Jonathan as intelligent and well-read. He loves spending his free time reading. He enjoys Cormac McCarthy's novel "Blood Meridian" and the works of Mark Twain. But he won't relax until his house is spotless. He begins every Sunday morning with cleaning.
