Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Jonathan Rhys Meyers (27 July 1977) is an Irish actor and model, best known internationally for his roles in the 1998 film Velvet Goldmine, as Elvis Presley in the biographical miniseries Elvis and as King Henry VIII in historical drama The Tudors
Rhys Meyers was born Jonathan Michael Francis O’Keeffe in Dublin, the son of Geraldine Meyers and musician John O’Keeffe. His stage name is derived from his mother’s maiden name, Meyers.
Rhys Meyers was born with a serious heart problem and was baptised shortly after his birth, as it was feared he would not survive long enough for a traditional baptism ceremony. He spent the first few months of his life in hospital. Born in Dublin, he moved to Cork City at one year old and was raised there. He has three younger brothers named Jamie, Alan and Paul, who are all professional musicians and two sisters named Sharon and Maria, who are also musicians.
When Rhys Meyers was three years old, his parents separated. His mother raised Jonathan and his brother Alan, while his other two brothers went to live at their grandmother’s house with their father.
Rhys Meyers owns houses and apartments in Nichols Canyon, Dublin, London and Morocco, splitting his time between Los Angeles and London when not working.
In 2004, Rhys Meyers met his ex girlfriend Reena Hammer. Hammer is the daughter of Ruby Hammer, co-creator of the Ruby & Millie cosmetics line, and George Hammer, owner of Urban Retreat Spa at Harrods.
Rhys Meyers had previously been romantically linked to actresses Toni Collette (who played his wife in the film Velvet Goldmine), Katie McGrath and Asia Argento (his co-star in B. Monkey). His engagement to Dublin socialite/model Cha Cha Seigne ended in separation in 2002. He dated fashion model Lisa Butcher on and off for a year.
In May 2005, Rhys Meyers checked into rehab facility Promises in California seeking treatment for alcohol abuse. On 24 April 2007, the Associated Press reported that Rhys Meyers returned to treatment. The actor’s representative Meredith O’Sullivan confirmed the news to People magazine citing his need to take a break from his busy schedule in order to maintain sobriety. On 18 November 2007, Rhys Meyers was arrested in Dublin Airport and charged with being drunk and in breach of the peace. He was later released on bail to appear at the Dublin District Court on 5 December 2007. He was in Dublin to promote his new movie August Rush on the Irish television programme Tubridy Tonight. The charges were later dropped.
On 27 February 2009, the actor checked into rehab a third time, seeking help for his alcohol addiction. Rhys Meyers was believed to be in an English treatment facility this time. He checked out on 15 March 2009.
On 20 June 2009, Rhys Meyers was arrested after allegedly attacking a number of staff at a bar in Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris and then threatening to kill them. He was bailed to appear before magistrates on charges of “willful violence, outrage, hitting and threatening death”, and will appear before the Correctional Tribunal in Bobigny, in September 2009.
