| Charismatic,
Welsh actor Rhys Ifans has made me laugh with his superb comedic performances
repeatedly since I noticed him, along with the rest of the world, in his
break out role as Spike, Hugh Grant’s scandalously stinky, underwear clad
roommate in 1999’s “Notting Hill”. Since then, the blue-eyed, thinning
blond-haired, 6’2” actor has turned in some hilarious and brilliant work
in quirky films such as Adam Sandler’s “Little Nicky” in which he played
a son of Satan; “Human Nature” co-starring Tim Robbins and Patricia Arquette
in which he played “Puff” the ape man; and the title role in the delightful
“Danny Deckchair” with Miranda Otto (she also worked with Rhys in Human
Nature). A lover of Laurel and Hardy, Rhys is a natural at physical
comedy, partially because of his provocative eyebrows, often disheveled
and malnourished appearance as well as his fearlessness about getting naked.
“The
Welsh are not meant to go out in the sun. They start to photosynthesize.”
- Rhys Ifans -
Born
July 22, 1968 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Rhys grew up in Ruthin;
his first language being Welsh. At the age of 13 he decided to convert
his name which is pronounced “Reese Ee-vans” to its Welsh spelling just
to be challenging and distinctive. Rhys joined a youth theatre with
his younger brother Llyr (also an actor) and later studied at the Guildhall
School, performed at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Royal
Exchange Theatre in Manchester gaining a fine reputation as a theatre actor.
He got his start in celluloid on British television and is now an internationally
acclaimed movie actor.
Particularly
interesting, Rhys was the lead singer for Super Furry Animals before they
found national success. That gig wasn’t his only brush with the rock
world. Rhys appeared in the video “Mama Told Me Not To Come” with
Tom Jones and Stereophonics and in 2005 made a guest appearance in the
Oasis video “The Importance of Being Idle” and he accepted their NME (New
Musical Express) Award for Video of the Year earlier this year.
Always
the chameleon, Rhys is equally affecting in dramatic roles. He was
superbly nasty in the British film “Twin Town”; charming as an absent father
in the Irish film “Dancing at Lughnasa”; and poignant as a love-struck
schmuck in the Scottish film “Once Upon A Time In The Midlands”.
Ifans gave a menacing performance in “Enduring Love”, creepily portraying
a homosexual sociopath who stalks Daniel Craig. He has also appeared
in the American films “The Replacements” with Keanu Reeves, “Formula 51”
with Samuel L. Jackson, “The Shipping News” with Kevin Spacey and “Vanity
Fair” with Reese Witherspoon. Rhys recently completed “Chromophobia”
with Ralph Fiennes and Penélope Cruz and “Four Last Songs” with
Stanley Tucci and Jena Malone. Ifans won British and Welsh BAFTA
awards for his interpretation of comedian Peter Cook in the TV movie “Not
Only But Always” and I predict Golden Globe and Oscar nominations in his
future. Keep your eye on Rhys Ifans. He never disappoints even
if the movies he’s in do.
|