Friday Flesh (...a day early due to travel)

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is an Irish actor and model.

Jonathan was born in Dublin, Ireland. He 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 a casting agent.

Jonathan's movie acting debut was a very small role in the film A Man of No Importance, where his simple cast credit is as "First Young Man". His first lead role was in the film The Disappearance of Finbar. Jonathan continued working constantly from that point and appeared in such films as August Rush, Mission Impossible III, Titus, Velvet Goldmine, and Bend It Like Beckham.

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 could be considered for more masculine roles.

Jonathan is also a talented singer and musician, having performed his own vocals in Velvet Goldmine and appearing on the film's soundtrack. He was chosen as the face for the Versace men's collection of Autumn/Winter 2006 and Spring 2007, and he has also been the face of the Hugo Boss men's fragrance range since 2005.

Currently, Jonathan is starring in The Tudors a television series based upon the early reign of Henry VIII. Season 2 begins March 30th on Showtime.