Rhys Ifans

PHOTO GALLERY
Date of Birth : Jun 22nd 1968

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).

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. 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. Ifans gained further controversy in March 2007 when he cracked a joke at an anti-slavery benefit concert which many audience members found distasteful.