Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was born July 27, 1977 in Dublin, Ireland. He and his family moved to County Cork, Ireland when the actor was nearly a year old, and then at the age of 3, his father left the family, leaving his mother to care for Jonny and his 3 younger brothers alone.

Rhys-Meyers grew up with a tumultuous childhood, spending some time in an orphanage and being permanently expelled from school at age 16. Happy to be out of school he began spending time in a local pool hall where he was discovered by Hubbard Casting. The casting agents were talent-spotting for the David Puttnam production of War of the Buttons (1994), and asked Meyers to appear for an audition. After three days of auditions he did not get the role, and Meyers gave up on his acting aspirations. However, he soon received a call to audition for a national ad campaign for Knorr soup, and though embarrassed by the attention and ad, he soon found himself considered for a major film.

His movie acting debut was a very small role in the film, Man of No Importance, A (1994), where his simple cast credit is as 'First Young Man'. He received his first lead role was in the film, Disappearance of Finbar, The (1996). During a 6 month postponement in filming he returned home to Cork and there received a call about the film Michael Collins (1996). He traveled to Dublin to meet with director 'Neil Jordon' and successfully won the role of Collins' assassin. Jordon wrote about his meeting with the actor, "I have found someone to play Collin's killer. Jonathan Rees-Myers (sic), from County Cork apparently, who looks like a young Tom Cruise. Comes into the casting session with alarming certainty. Obviously gifted."

Rhys-Meyers continued working constantly from that point and appeared in such films as, Maker, The (1997), Telling Lies in America (1997), and Tribe, The (1998) (TV). Going on to film, Governess, The (1998), B. Monkey (1998), Titus (1999) and Ride with the Devil (1999/I), he has received critical acclaim for several performances, most notably as Brian Slade in Velvet Goldmine (1998), and as Steerpike in the British mini series "Gormenghast" (2000) (mini). Rhys-Meyers is also a talented singer and musician, having performed his own vocals in the film Velvet Goldmine and appearing on the film's soundtrack. Rhys-Meyers still resides in County Cork, Ireland.

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers will next be seen playing Cassander in Oliver Stone's Alexander.

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