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 Puttnamproduction of War of the Buttons (1994)_ , and asked Rhys Meyers to appear for an audition. After three days of auditions, however, he did not get the role, and Rhys Meyers gave up on his acting aspirations. Soon afterward, he received a call to audition for a national ad campaign for Knorr soup, and though embarrassed by the attention from the 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. His first lead role was in the film Disappearance of Finbar,1996)_ . During a 6-month postponement in production 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 Jordan (I) and successfully won the role of Collins's assassin. Jordan wrote about his meeting with the actor, "I have found someone to play Collin's (sic) killer. Jonathan Rees-Myers (sic), from County Cork, apparently, who looks like a young Tom Cruise. [He] 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, 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)_ , as Steerpike in the British mini series "Gormenghast" (2000)(mini)_ , and as a sympathetic football coach in Bend It Like Beckham (2002)_ . Rhys Meyers is also a talented singer and musician, having performed his own vocals in "Velvet Goldmine" and appearing on the film's soundtrack. Rhys Meyers still resides in County Cork, Ireland.

Sang some of the songs that appear in Velvet Goldmine (1998).

Uncle of his brother's child, Dylan.

Has three younger brothers: Jamie, Paul and Alan.

He was born with a heart condition, and was baptized rather quickly for fear he would not live long.

Has a horse named Belle.

Choosen by Cosmopolitan Magazine at #34 of the 100 Most Sexy Men In The World. [1998]

He changed his last name when he took up acting, taking his mother's maiden name of Meyers.

"Rhys" is pronounced "reese."

Beat out at least 200 actors for the role of Elvis Presley.

In order to avoid the boyish and somewhat androgynous junkies and weak- willed characters he found himself typecast as, he underwent a fitness regime in 2004 and gained and maintained about 25 extra pounds of muscle, so he can also be considered for more masculine roles.

Does a superb impression of his Match Point (2005) director Woody Allen

Has been romantically linked to actresses Toni Collette, Asia Argento, Rachael Leigh Cook and Estella Warren.

Longtime companion of heiress Reena Hammer from 2004 to 2006.

Face of the "Versace" men's collection of Autumn/Winter 2006 and Spring 2007 as well as of the new fragrance of "Hugo Boss".

Resides in London and owns an apartment in Morocco.