Rhys Ifans biography, wife, age, height, family, career path 2025

Biography of Rhys Ifans

Welsh actor Rhys Ifans has always impressed fans with his hard work and determination. He has taken on various roles—from comedic goofballs to formidable villains—and has won over audiences and critics alike. Rhys first conquered British cinema and then burst into Hollywood in 2000. Fans remember him as the amusing Spike from "Notting Hill," the grim Adrian from "Little Nicky," and the slightly mad Xenophilius Lovegood from "Harry Potter."

In 2011, he fulfilled any actor's dream by playing not just Hamlet but the supposed creator of the character in the period drama "Anonymous." In 2022, he returned to a major project, this time as the king's hand, playing political games behind the scenes in the blockbuster series "House of the Dragon."

Childhood

Rhys Ifans, the future actor, was born on July 22, 1967, in Pembrokeshire, Wales. His parents were hereditary teachers. Rhys was very close to his brother Llyr, who was only a year younger. The house had a creative atmosphere, with music always playing and Welsh traditions being honored.

The family moved a lot within Wales. Rhys started first grade in the town of Ruthin, where his mother got a job at an elementary school. He completed his secondary education in Mold, where he began attending a school at the local Clwyd Theatre. It was there that he made his first stage appearances, performing in the play "Hamlet."

Ifans also appeared on stage in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre and in the plays "Under Milk Wood" and "Volpone" at the National Theatre.

In 1990, Rhys made his first television appearance. He became a host of a children's quiz show on local TV. Both viewers and producers appreciated the young man's ability to improvise in the studio. Soon, he received offers to host various TV shows, which he gladly accepted.

Rhys Ifans as a young man on the theater stage

By 1994, he realized he wanted to pursue acting more seriously. He enrolled in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and began auditioning.

Acting Career

Rhys's early roles were hard to call successful: he played minor characters in low-budget TV series, where his name was not always credited. It wasn't until 1996 that the actor appeared in a truly significant project: the drama Anthony Hopkins "August." Evans played one of the supporting characters and worked on set not only with the star of "The Silence of the Lambs" but also with actresses such as Leslie Phillips and Kate Burton.

A year later, Rhys and his brother Llyr took on leading roles in the dramedy "Twin Town" (1997). They played dangerous and slightly crazy brothers who robbed a crime lord. The film was nominated for the main prize at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Rhys Evans and his brother Llyr in the movie "Twin Town"

Evans became well-known and began receiving new offers for roles every year. His participation in the comedy "Notting Hill" in 1999 made him truly popular. The actor played the friend of the main character, played by the charming Hugh Grant.

Spike, whom Rhys portrayed on screen, was a scruffy and eccentric Welshman, contrasting with Hugh's character. To get into the role, Evans even stopped brushing his teeth for a couple of months during filming. His efforts were duly noted, and he was nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor. However, he lost the award to Jude Law.

In 2000, the actor made a big splash in Hollywood by starring in the comedy "Little Nicky" alongside Adam Sandler and Patricia Arquette. Rhys played the arrogant older brother of Nicky, Adrian. After the premiere, the Welsh actor gained international recognition.

In 2001, he appeared in the drama "The Shipping News," where the lead roles were played by movie stars Kevin Spacey, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, and Julianne Moore. He also portrayed an extravagant professor in Michel Gondry's experimental dramedy "Human Nature" and a weapons and contraband dealer in the action film "Formula 51." In the latter, Rhys starred alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle.

Over the next eight years, the actor added to his filmography such box office hits as "Vanity Fair" (2004), "Hannibal Rising" (2006), "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007), "Mr. Nobody" (2009), and "The Boat That Rocked" (2009). For his role in the TV-drama "Not Only But Always," where Rhys played comedian Peter Cook, he won the BAFTA award (2005).

In 2010, Evans joined the cast of the blockbuster "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I." In the fantasy saga, he played the magazine "The Quibbler" publisher, the eccentric Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna's father. "I'm not a big Harry Potter fan, but I feel privileged to work with actors like Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon," Rhys admitted.

In 2011, the actor landed the lead role in the drama "Anonymous," dedicated to the mystery of the authorship of William Shakespeare's works. Evans portrayed the Earl of Oxford, to whom many sources attributed the playwright's works. "Anonymous is a real gift because I had never played anything like it before," he noted. The film didn't break box office records but was nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design.

A year later, Rhys joined the Marvel universe, starring in "The Amazing Spider-Man" with Andrew Garfield in the lead role. Evans transformed into one of the superhero's fiercest enemies, the Lizard.

After this project, he appeared in the TV series "Elementary" (2012), the drama "Serena" (2014), the fantasy "Alice Through the Looking Glass" (2016), and the war thriller "Official Secrets" (2019). In 2020, Rhys starred in the comedy "Misbehaviour" alongside Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Theater

Remembering his early stage experiences, the actor also developed his career in theater. In 2003, he performed in the play "Accidental Death of an Anarchist" at the Donmar Warehouse in London. Three years later, he returned to the stage, this time in the production of "Don Juan in Soho."

Rhys Ifans in the play 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist'

In 2016, after a long break, Rhys performed at the Old Vic theater in the play "King Lear." A year later, he portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" at the same venue. In 2018, Ifans participated in the production of "Exit the King" at the National Theatre.

Additionally, in 2020, he was cast as Atticus Finch in Aaron Sorkin's production of "To Kill a Mockingbird." However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the premiere was postponed to 2021, and Ifans lost the role because of scheduling conflicts.

Music

Music played an important role in the career and life of the actor, a love for which was instilled in him during childhood. Rhys Ifans was briefly the lead singer of the rock band Super Furry Animals.

Super Furry Animals - God! Show Me Magic

In 2007, Rhys began singing with the Welsh band The Peth, which played psychedelic rock. In 2008, the actor performed with the group in one of the popular concert venues in the UK. A year later, they opened for the British rock band Oasis during a concert at the stadium in Cardiff.

Rhys Ifans during a concert of the band The Peth

The actor also appeared in several music videos for the bands Super Furry Animals, Catatonia, and Stereophonics. In 2005, Ifans starred in the music video for the song "The Importance of Being Idle" by Oasis and won the "Video of the Year" award at the NME Awards.

Personal Life of Rhys Ifans

Rhys Ifans tries to keep his personal life private. However, in 2007, paparazzi spotted him walking with actress Sienna Miller. After that, the couple stopped hiding their relationship and started making more frequent public appearances.

In 2008, it became known that the actor proposed to his beloved. Miller agreed to the engagement but soon realized she wasn't ready for marriage. She broke up with Rhys over the phone, which deeply offended him.

He found solace in a brief romance with actress Kimberly Stewart. In 2011, Rhys began dating Anna Friel. They were together for three years before amicably parting ways.

After that, Rhys did not publicize any new relationships. Ifans has never been married and has no children. Additionally, the actor avoids social media despite fans urging him to join.

Rhys Ifans Now

In 2021, Rhys took on the role of Grigori Rasputin, the antagonist of the main character in the film "The King's Man." The movie also featured Ralph Fiennes and Harris Dickinson. The film received lukewarm reviews.

By that time, Ifans had already begun working on his character in the blockbuster series "House of the Dragon," a spin-off of "Game of Thrones." Episodes began streaming on HBO in August 2022. Rhys played the role of King Viserys' Hand, Otto Hightower. According to the script, his character is a shrewd and insightful official who grew close to the throne by marrying his daughter Alicent to the widowed king.

Alongside Ifans, the series starred Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Fabien Frankel, and other British actors. "It's always wonderful when you know you'll work with someone incredibly talented," Rhys described his co-stars.

In 2023, Ifans appeared in the tragicomedy "Mother, Couch," where he and Ewan McGregor played brothers trying to convince their mom to leave a furniture store, as well as in the biographical film "Diana Nyad." He also appeared in the blockbuster "Venom: Last Dance" as a hippie and alien enthusiast named Martin.

Rhys Ifans in Venom: The Last Dance

Interesting Facts

Ifans is involved in charity work. In 2017, he became a partner in the social project "7 Ways to End Homelessness." Additionally, he bought a pub in his hometown of Pembrokeshire, thus saving it from closure.

In 2002, the actor was involved in a public scandal due to a careless remark in an interview while discussing vacant holiday homes in Wales owned by English people in the 1980s. He emphasized that modern Welsh youth can't afford to live there. His monologue gave the impression that Rhys was justifying the actions of a nationalist group that burned these homes. His words were condemned by the British online. The actor did not clarify or comment on his statements.

In 2011, a security guard at Comic-Con claimed the actor pushed him. The police had to arrest Rhys. However, the incident was soon resolved as no charges were filed due to a lack of evidence.

Important Dates in Life

1990 – Became the host of a children's quiz show on Welsh television
1994 – Enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
1996 – Appeared in the drama "August"
1997 – Acted alongside his brother Llyr in the film "Twin Town"
1999 – Landed a role in the comedy "Notting Hill," nominated for a BAFTA Award as Best Supporting Actor
2000 – Appeared in the movie "Little Nicky"
2003 – Participated in the play "Accidental Death of an Anarchist"
2005 – Won a BAFTA Award for his role in the drama "Not Only But Always," appeared in the music video for "The Importance of Being Idle" by Oasis, and won "Video of the Year" at the NME Awards
2006 – Played a role in "Hannibal Rising," performed in the play "Don Juan in Soho"
2007 – Began singing with the rock band "The Peth"
2008 – Proposed to actress Sienna Miller
2010 – Appeared in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1"
2011 – Landed the lead role in the drama "Anonymous"
2012 – Acted in "The Amazing Spider-Man"
2016 – Appeared in the fantasy "Alice Through the Looking Glass," performed in the play "King Lear"
2017 – Landed the lead role in the play "A Christmas Carol"
2021 – Played Grigori Rasputin in the film "The King's Man"
2022 – Appeared as Otto Hightower in the series "House of the Dragon"

Kerrie Steele Journalist