Name: Ioan Gruffudd
Date of Birth: 6 October 1973, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Ioan Mini-Bio:
Known to many as the inexperienced, yet heroic officer, Horatio Hornblower from the A&E miniseries, Welsh man Ioan Gruffudd (pronounced Yo-Awn Griffith) was born and raised in Cardiff. His parents, both teachers, brought up Gruffudd and his brother and sister speaking the Welsh language.The popular Welsh name "Ioan" is an equivalent of "John", and "Gruffudd" corresponds to the Anglicised "Griffith". He has been quoted as saying, "I'm determined not to lose my name. It's who I am. It has neither aided my progress nor hampered it. It's just who I am. My character... my make-up. My culture and heritage is a very rich one. So what if it's difficult for people to pronounce? We all learned how to say Schwarzenegger." A natural musician, he was an accomplished oboist in his teens, attaining a Grade 8 level in the ABRSM music examinations and playing for the South Glamorgan Youth Orchestra for several years, but gave it up once acting took up most of his time. He also won prizes for his high baritone singing while at school, including one at the National Eisteddfod.He has said, "As a Welshman, I grew up in a culture of singing and performing with music, and I think it was through this performing that I got my confidence as an actor." But Gruffudd had dreams of playing rugby for Wales, or becoming an airline pilot. "Like many Welsh boys my dream was to play rugby for my country. But hopefully, through acting I can represent my country on an international stage, and fly the flag that way," he once stated. He was hooked by acting after landing a part in a Welsh language film when he was eleven. Two years later he won a role on a BBC soap opera, Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley), a part which lasted for seven years.
Gruffudd left home at 18 to attend the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts in London and continued his studies from 1992 to 1995. Just days after finishing his course he was on a train back to Cardiff for a role in a BBC drama A Relative Stranger, starring Siobhan Redmond and Jason Isaacs. The actor had his first taste of the professional stage at London’s Gate Theatre and then won parts in two major feature films -- Titanic (1997) and Wilde (1997). In Titanic (1997), Gruffudd played Fifth Officer Lowe, who rescued survivors from the stricken ship. His Titanic (1997) role contrasted greatly to his role in Wilde (1997), in which he played John Gray, one of Oscar Wilde’s earlier lovers. At the age of 24, the actor landed the coveted lead role of C.S. Forester’s sea faring hero Horatio Hornblower."I was so lucky to have been offered the lead in a big  series like this. Hornblower is such a complex character, and so well known to fans of C.S. Forester’s books that it was a terrific challenge for me," said Gruffudd at the time. The plucky young actor was determined not to miss out on a moment of the action, and insisted on doing all the stunts himself. This role catapulted him into stardom not only in England, but across the pond as well. Following Hornblower, he landed the lead in another literary classic, playing Pip in Tony Marchant’s adaptation of Dickens’ Great Expectations. Gruffudd then joined an ensemble cast, playing Lt. John Feeley in Warriors (both for the BBC). Finally lead roles in features followed. He learned to speak Yiddish for the role of Solomon in the 1998 film Solomon And Gaenor (1999), put on an American accent as Lt. John Beales in Black Hawk Down (2001), and played Lancelot in the big budget American/British co-production King Arthur (2004). His biggest movie hit to date has been playing Reed Richards in Fantastic Four (2005), which grossed over $150 million at the domestic box office, and the sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).
Gruffudd currently lives with his wife, New Jersey-born British actress Alice Evans, in Los Angeles, California. The couple met during the production of 102 Dalmatians, and married on 14 September 2007 in Mexico. One of Gruffudd's best men and speechmakers at the wedding was fellow Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, his long-time friend and former flatmate of eight years. On 20 April 2009, Gruffudd and his wife announced they were expecting their first child together. On 6th September 2009, the couple welcomed their first child, a girl, named Ella Betsi Evans Gruffudd. Janet was chosen as a middle name in honour of Evans's mother who died in 1999.
INTERESTING NEWS:
Actor pals Matthew Rhys and Ioan Gruffudd were mugged by a pregnant woman after a drunken night out in their native Wales.
Rhys passed out while celebrating Fantastic Four star Gruffudd's birthday at their favorite pub and a desperate mum-to-be took advantage of the drunk duo as they made their way home.
The Brothers & Sisters star has no recollection of the incident, but was told all about the odd encounter the following morning when he woke to find his wallet and keys missing.
Rhys says, "I was unable to stand at the time and he's trying to hold me upright... He's got my arm around his shoulders and he's walking me to the house... at which point a lady approached him, who is with child, and said, 'Hand over your money.'
"She reached in, grabbed my wallet and my money and pulled it out and there was this split second, a stand off... and then she took off. And he's standing there going, 'Do I drop him and chase her or do I let the matter go?'"
Gruffudd had some explaining to do the following morning when his pal woke to find his belongings missing.
Rhys adds, "He came in and said, 'We were mugged last night by a pregnant woman...' He told the story and I said, 'And you chased after her?' and he went, 'Well, no, I didn't wanna drop you...' Some friend... I said, 'I'd have dropped you in a heartbeat'."
04 October 2009
Ioan Gruffudd is a father of a baby girl - his wife Alice Evans has given birth to the couple's first child. The Welsh actor welcomed little Ella Betsi Evans Gruffudd into the world on 6 September (09). She weighed six pounds, three ounces (2.8 kilograms).
But the baby's sex didn't come as a shock for the couple - the pair knew they were expecting a little girl, but kept the news secret.
Gruffudd recently revealed how he is planning on having three kids - but his dream of his daughter being born in August like Evans came short by just a month.
He said, "I have my eyes on a brood of three. Ideally I would love a little daughter born in the same month as Alice, because then she would be this strong-headed, fun-loving young thing and it would be great to have two women with that kind of energy in the house."
10 September 2009 | VITAL STATS | Ioan Gruffudd Information:
| | Eye color: Brown | | Height: 5' 11" (1.80 m) | | Nickname(s): | | Notable feature(s): | Family: His parents Peter and Gillian, brother Alun, who is two years younger and a sister, Siwan, who is seven years younger, his wife Alice Evans and their daughter Ella Betsi Evans Gruffudd.
| | Resides in: Los Angeles | | Religious affiliations: His parents are committed Christians, but he wouldn't describe himself as a deeply religious man. | | Political affiliation: | | Personal interests/hobbies: | | Charities/Causes: | Other:
- Shared a flat in London with his best friend and fellow Welsh actor Matthew Rhys.
- He played the oboe in the South Glamorgan Youth Orchestra for several years.
- He learned Yiddish for his role in the film Solomon and Gaenor (1999).
- His name is pronounced "Yo-wahn Griffith".
- Parents were teachers. Grandparents ran a local amateur drama society in Cardiff.
- Met his wife, actress Alice Evans, on the set of 102 Dalmatians (2000), although at the time she was romantically involved with Pablo Picasso's grandson, Olivier.
- On 6th September 2009, the couple welcomed their first child, a girl, named Ella Betsi Evans Gruffudd.
-Speaks Welsh, English, and learned Yiddish for his role in Solomon and Gaenor.
Personal Quotes:
* The arses on the trousers aren't very tight. They're very loose and baggy and I like tight trousers. And the shoes - the shoes have got a bit of a heel, and it's a strange sensation for a man. Especially when you're running. He mimes a mincing trot. "I am mighty Hornblower! Watch me run like a girl!"
* [On Horatio Hornblower]: I think people are attracted to the character because he's not a hero in the traditional sense. He's not a natural leader, he's just a young man with a very bright mind. He's compassionate, he hates injustice and he will stand up and fight when he's pushed to the limit.
* As long as you understand that you find happiness through family, friends and love, then money is just a nice bonus.
* In the past, I have felt slightly pigeon-holed with the success of roles like Hornblower, all ruffled shirts and wonderful costumes. I think Launcelot was the turning point because he's more masculine, more dangerous, which goes hand in hand with me growing older. I want longevity, so I'm always trying to escape the way I'm perceived - you know, Ioan the soft-spoken Welshman.
* [When asked about continuing to portray Horatio Hornblower]: I would love to play this character through every stage of his life. I think it would be unique to have an actor playing him from the very early days as a midshipman; through till he's an Admiral. So, I would love to play this character till he perishes.
| | |
