Rhys Ifans

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Rhys Ifans
Born 22 July 1968 (1968-07-22) (age 39)
Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Rhys Ifans IPA: [r̥ ɨːs 'ivans] (born 22 July 1968) is an Emmy-nominated, BAFTA-winning Welsh actor.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Ifans was born Rhys Evans in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales to Beti-Wyn, a nursery school teacher, and Eirwyn Evans, a primary school teacher.[1] He has adopted the Welsh spelling of his surname. Ifans grew up in Ruthin, in North Wales,[2] and attended Ysgol Maes Garmon, a Welsh language secondary school in Mold, Flintshire, where he sat his O levels and A levels. He also attended youth acting schools at Theatr Clwyd, Mold. His first language is Welsh and he says that he began using the Welsh spelling of his surname, "just to be difficult". His brother, Llŷr Evans, is also an actor. They starred together in the Welsh produced film, Twin Town. Rhys is engaged to British actress, Sienna Miller [3], and has a swallow tattoo on his left wrist to match hers. [4] In June 2008 it was reported that Miller ended the relationship with Ifans.[5]


[edit] Career

In 1990, Ifans presented Sdwnsh (Welsh for "Mash"), an anarchic children's quiz. In total 31 fifteen minute programmes were broadcast on S4C.[6]

Ifans appeared in many Welsh language television programmes before embarking on his film career, as well as performing at the Royal National Theatre, London and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

He was briefly lead vocalist of the rock band Super Furry Animals before they found national success. [7]

His film roles include: Eyeball Paul in Kevin and Perry Go Large (2000), Nigel in The Replacements (2000), Iki in The 51st State (2001), William Dobbin in Vanity Fair (2004) and Vladis Grutas in Hannibal Rising (film) (2007). He also played Jed Parry in the film version of Ian McEwan's Enduring Love (film) and the lead role in Danny Deckchair (2003) as Danny Morgan.

In 2005, Ifans picked up a BAFTA for his critically acclaimed portrayal of iconic comedian Peter Cook in the TV film Not Only But Always. Later that year he made a guest appearance for the rock band Oasis in the video for their single "The Importance of Being Idle" for which he accepted their award for Video Of the Year at the 2005/2006 NME Awards. This was not Ifans' first foray into the world of music videos: he has also made appearances in the music videos for "God! Show Me Magic" by the Super Furry Animals, "Mulder & Scully" by Catatonia, and "Mama Told Me Not To Come" by Tom Jones and the Stereophonics.

He is known to American viewers as "Adrian", the pompous, arrogant, eldest brother from Little Nicky, as well as his "breakout" role as Spike in British film Notting Hill (1999). According to the DVD's commentary, for the latter role, Ifans did not wash or brush his teeth, in preparation for the role.

In December 2006, he returned to the London stage for the first time since 2003 in Michael Grandage's production 'Don Juan In Soho' at the Donmar Warehouse (run ended 10th February 2007). He had appeared previously at the Donmar in 2003's 'Accidental Death Of An Anarchist'. Earlier stage work includes 'Hamlet' at Theatre Clwyd, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at the Regent's Park Theatre and 'Under Milk Wood' and 'Volpone' at the Royal National Theatre.

On 16th July 2007, he received an Honorary Fellowship from Bangor University in North Wales, for services to the film industry.[8] In 2002 he gained some controversy in the British media for his alleged support of Welsh nationalist group Meibion Glyndwr, a militant group who support violence against English home owners in the Welsh heartlands. This was due mainly to some comments he made in an interview conducted by Mariella Frostrup for The Observer newspaper.[9]

Ifans gained further controversy in March 2007 when he cracked a joke at an anti-slavery benefit concert which many audience members found distasteful. The controversy came when Ifans told the crowd: "Why is paedophilia so popular? Because kids are so fucking sexy." [10]

[edit] Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes
1995 Streetlife Kevin
1996 August Griffiths
1997 Twin Town Jeremy Lewis
1998 Dancing at Lughnasa Gerry Evans
1999 Heart Alex Madden
Notting Hill Spike Nominated - BAFTA Award
You're Dead Eddie
2000 Rancid Aluminium Pete Thompson
Love, Honour and Obey Matthew
Kevin And Perry Go Large Eyeball Paul
The Replacements Nigel Gruff
Little Nicky Adrian
2001 Hotel Trent Stoken
Christmas Carol: The Movie Bob Cratchit voice
The Shipping News Beaufield Nutbeem
Human Nature Puff
The 51st State Iki
2002 Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Dek
2003 Danny Deckchair Danny Morgan
2004 Vanity Fair William Dobbin
Enduring Love Jed
2005 El Sueño de una noche de San Juan Lysander voice: English version
The Undertaker The Undertaker
Chromophobia Colin
2006 Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties McBunny voice
2007 Four Last Songs Dickie
Hannibal Rising Grutas
Elizabeth: The Golden Age Robert Reston
2008 The Informers TBA post-production
The Restraint of Beasts TBA post-production
2009 Mr. Nobody TBA post-production
The Boat That Rocked Gavin filming

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rhys Ifans Biography (1968-)
  2. ^ Rhys Ifans | Rhys Ifans Pictures | Rhys Ifans Biography | Rhys Ifans Gossip & More
  3. ^ http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2008/03/09/sienna-miller-to-marry-lover-rhys-ifans-98487-20345639/
  4. ^ http://people.aol.com/people/article/0,26334,1558340,00.html
  5. ^ "Sienna Miller Goes Grease Free", 2008-06-03. 
  6. ^ http://www.antena.co.uk/archive_sdwnsh.htm
  7. ^ BBC - Wales - Super Furry Animals FAQ
  8. ^ News and Events at the University of Wales, Bangor
  9. ^ Mariella Frostrup meets Rhys Ifans | Interviews | Guardian Unlimited Film
  10. ^ Ananova - Ifans slammed for paedophilia 'gag'

[edit] External links