Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Credit: Bryan Bedder/Getty

BIO

Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers was born July 27, 1977, in Dublin, Ireland to young parents who split when Meyers was 3-years-old. After a rough childhood, Meyers was kicked out of school at age 16.

Instead of attending school, Rhys Meyers spent his time in local pool halls where he was discovered by an agent who cast him in a commercial for Knorr soup. He made his film debut in A Man of No Importance, and from there he went on to share screen time with actors such as Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Anthony Hopkins.

In 2005, Rhys Meyers starred in Elvis, a CBS mini-series that earned him a Golden Globe and Golden Satellite award. He became a household name when he starred in Woody Allen's romantic thriller Match Point and made his musical talents known with his role opposite Keri Russell in August Rush. In 2007, Rhys Meyers landed the starring role of King Henry VIII in the Showtime series The Tudors. The role helped him secure his second Golden Globe win.

The talented but trouble star has been in and out of rehab for alcohol addiction since 2005. Meyer's first attempt at rehabilitation was made at the request of on-off girlfriend, heiress Reena Hammer.