Ioan Gruffudd

Infobox actor
name = Ioan Gruffudd

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imagesize =
caption = Gruffudd at Southland Shopping Centre in Melbourne, Australia, promoting "", 4 May 2007
birthname = Ioan Gruffudd
birthdate = birth date and age|1973|10|6|df=yes
birthplace = Llwydcoed, Wales, UK
deathdate =
deathplace =
yearsactive = 1986–present
spouse = Alice Evans (2007–present)
awards =

Ioan Gruffudd (pronounced|ˈjoʊæn ˈgrɪfɪð, respelled|YOE-an GRI-fith; audio|Cy-Ioan_Gruffudd.ogg|listen; born 6 October 1973) is a Welsh actor.

Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he came to international attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the film "Titanic" (1997), and as Lt. John Beales in "Black Hawk Down" (2001). However, he is probably best known for playing the role of Horatio Hornblower in "Hornblower", the British made-for-TV films (1998–2003) based on C.S. Forester's novels.

Gruffudd's recent notable film roles include Lancelot in "King Arthur" (2004), Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) in "Fantastic Four" (2005) and the sequel "" (2007), and British slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce in "Amazing Grace" (2006).

Family, early life and education

Gruffudd was born on 6 October 1973 in the village of Llwydcoed near the town of Aberdare, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Mid Glamorgan, south Wales. His family later moved to Cardiff.cite web|title=Ioan Gruffudd biography|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/ioan_gruffudd/pages/biography.shtml|publisher=BBC Wales|accessdate=2008-05-14] Gruffudd's parents, Peter and Gillian Griffiths, were teachers.cite web|title=Derbyn Ioan i'r Orsedd Ioan received into the Gorsedd|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_3120000/newsid_3122400/3122401.stm|date=2003-08-04|publisher=BBC Wales|language=Welsh|accessdate=2008-08-02 cite web|title=Biography for Ioan Gruffudd|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0344435/bio|publisher=Internet Movie Database (IMDb)|accessdate=2008-05-15] His father was headmaster at two Welsh comprehensive schools in South Wales, first at Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari then later at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen. [cite web|title=Mr Peter Griffiths|url=http://www.glam.ac.uk/awards/1846|publisher=University of Glamorgan|year=2008|accessdate=2008-08-02] He has two siblings; a brother, Alun,cite news|author=Karen Price|title=Ioan's wedding pictures published|url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/whats-on/tm_headline=ioan-8217-s-wedding-pictures-published&method=full&objectid=19805820&siteid=50082-name_page.html|work=Western Mail (reproduced on icWales.co.uk)|date=2007-09-18] who is two years younger, and a sister, Siwan, who is seven years younger than he is.

The popular Welsh name "Ioan" is an equivalent of "John", and "Gruffudd" corresponds to the Anglicized "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."cite news|author=Eloise Parker|title=Ioan's a celluloid superhero!|url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0900entertainment/0050artsnews/tm_headline=ioan-s-a-celluloid-superhero-&method=full&objectid=18741605&siteid=50082-name_page.html|publisher=icWales.co.uk|date=2007-03-12]

Gruffudd attended Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdar (Ynyslwyd) (now situated in Cwmdare), Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, where he sat his GCSEs and A-Levels. A natural musician, he was an accomplished oboist in his teens,cite news|author=Liz Hoggard|title=Ioan Gruffudd: Enter the dragon|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/ioan-gruffudd-enter-the-dragon-496974.html|work=The Independent|date=2005-07-02] attaining a Grade 8 level in the ABRSM music examinationscite web|title=Ioan Gruffudd CV|url=http://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/page.asp?partid=91|publisher=Hamilton Hodell Talent Management|accessdate=2008-05-15] and playing for the South Glamorgan Youth Orchestra for several years,cite web|title=The Gruffudd saga|url=http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=3492|publisher=GMTV|date=2004-01-16] but gave it up once acting took up most of his time. [imdb name|id=0344435|name=Ioan Gruffudd. Retrieved on 14 May 2008.] 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."cite web|title=Ioan Gruffudd: Trivia|url=http://www.filmspot.com/people/132486/ioan-gruffudd/trivia.html|publisher=Filmspot.com|accessdate=2007-06-12]

Gruffudd's parents are committed Christians, and in his early 20s he was a member of the controversial London Church of Christ but that his mother later came to London to "sort [his] head out". [In a July 2005 newspaper interview, Gruffudd said: "I hadn't been going to chapel. A guy stopped me in the street and asked if I would like to go to church. I thought it was a sign. ... I knew it wasn't right but I didn't feel that it was so wrong, so other-worldly – that's how convincing the whole thing was. In the end my mum had to come up to London to sort my head out.": cite news|author=Liz Hoggard|title=Ioan Gruffudd: Enter the dragon|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/ioan-gruffudd-enter-the-dragon-496974.html|work=The Independent|date=2005-07-02] In June 2007 he said that he "wouldn't describe myself as a deeply religious man". [cite web|author=James Collard|title=Prince of Wales: Famed for standout roles in period dramas, actor Ioan Gruffudd has a similar taste for timeless classics in his own wardrobe department|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article1854458.ece|work=The Times|date=2007-06-02]

Career

Gruffudd started his acting career at the age of 13 in a Welsh television film called "Austin" (1986) and then later moved on to the Welsh soap opera "Pobol y Cwm" ("People of the Valley") from 1987 to 1994. In 1992, at 18, he began attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. However, he was only given small parts in the Academy's productions, and feeling isolated and directionless, almost dropped out several times. However, in 1995 in his final year, he was cast in Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" as George (Jörgen) Tesman, the husband of Hedda, the lead character. This performance led to him being offered the lead role in the 1996 TV remake of "Poldark". [cite web|author=Gina Petonito|title=Biography|url=http://www.ioan-central.com/ioan/biography.php|publisher=Ioancentral [fan site] |date=1999–2007|accessdate=2008-05-15]

After playing Oscar Wilde's lover John Gray in 1997's "Wilde" he took his first international role as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the blockbuster film "Titanic". He later landed his best-known role as Horatio Hornblower in "Hornblower", the Meridian production of the C.S. Forester novels (1998–2003), shown on ITV1 and A&E. Gruffudd has said: "It was quite something for an unknown actor to get the lead. So I will always be grateful to 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." Since February 20, 2007, Gruffudd has been making plans to obtain rights to the Horatio Hornblower novels in order to produce a film for the big screen. [cite news|title=Ioan Gruffudd – Gruffudd plans Hornblower movie|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/gruffudd%20plans%20hornblower%20movie_1022658|publisher=Contactmusic.com|date=2007-02-20]

Gruffudd's TV work includes playing the character Pip in the BBC TV production of Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" (1999) and architect Philip Bosinney in ITV's adaptation of "The Forsyte Saga" (2002). As regards films, he has starred in "102 Dalmatians" (2000), "Black Hawk Down" (2001) and "King Arthur" (2004). In 2007 he starred in the historical drama "Amazing Grace" as William Wilberforce, the British slavery abolitionist, receiving critical acclaim for the role. Gruffudd has also portrayed characters of both Marvel Comics and DC Comics, having appeared as Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) in Marvel's "Fantastic Four" (2005) and "" (2007), and provided the voice of Mister Miracle in DC's "Justice League Unlimited" (2004–2006).

Apart from television and film work, he also starred in the music video of Westlife's version of "Uptown Girl" (2001) alongside Claudia Schiffer, and on 7 July 2007 he was a presenter at the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London. [cite news|title=London Live Earth line-up revealed|url=http://www.nme.com/news/live-earth/29428|work=NME|date=2007-07-05]

Gruffudd is a native Welsh speaker. He was inducted into the Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain (the Bardic Order of Great Britain) at the highest rank of druid in the National Eisteddfod at Meifod, Mid Wales, on 4 August 2003, with the bardic name "Ioan". [cite news|title=Gruffudd made honorary druid|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3005158.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=2003-06-20] In July 2008 he featured in a promotional trailer in Welsh for BBC Wales alongside fellow Welshmen Matthew Rhys and Gethin Jones publicising the broadcaster's coverage of the 2008 National Eisteddfod of Wales in Cardiff. [cite news|title=Eisteddfod hapus! Happy Eisteddfod!|url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/mediamonkey/2008/07/dedwydd_eisteddfod.html|work=MediaMonkey, Mediaguardian.co.uk|date=2008-07-30]

elected work

Film

Some information in this table was obtained from cite web|title=Ioan Gruffudd CV|url=http://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/page.asp?partid=91|publisher=Hamilton Hodell Talent Management|accessdate=2008-05-15

Personal life

Gruffudd lives with his wife, American-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. [cite news|author=Mary Margaret|title="Fantastic Four" Star Ioan Gruffudd gets married|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20057165,00.html|work=People|date=2007-09-15] 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.

Gruffudd enjoys being in Los Angeles because "it's the easiest place in the world to drive, and it's a real pleasure to do that in my black Jag XK8. I've gone all out." He also admires the physicality and confidence of Americans, and enjoys being around them because he feels these qualities rub off on to him. [According to Gruffudd: "There's a physicality and confidence to Americans; they're very present. That's something I enjoy being around because it rubs off on you. Although an actor friend of mine visited recently and said, 'It's no wonder they write such terrible scripts these days, there's no pain! Everything's so nice you can't be bothered.'": cite news|author=Liz Hoggard|title=Ioan Gruffudd: Enter the dragon|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/ioan-gruffudd-enter-the-dragon-496974.html|work=The Independent|date=2005-07-02]

In April 2007, Gruffudd removed his funding from his largest fan-site, [http://www.ioanonline.com Ioanonline.com] , due to comments made about Evans on the site, and elsewhere on the Internet, which angered her. In March 2007, Gruffudd posted a message on Ioanonline.com that started with "Dear All", and expressed disappointment about the "small minority" of fans that had behaved in a "despicable manner" by levelling "unpleasant and sometimes vitriolic comments" at his wife. [The text of the message of March 2007, as provided by on 8 August 2007, was as follows: "Dear all, It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. I was utterly aghast and in a state of shock when I discovered the unpleasant and sometimes vitriolic comments that were being leveled at my fiancée Alice when I recently observed the community forum on 'ioanonline'. I find it hard to believe that people who have supported me so ardently over the years would behave in such a despicable manner. I have never been happier since meeting and falling in love with Alice and I am overwhelmed with excitement about getting married to the woman of my dreams. I am aware that it is always a small minority that gives the majority a bad name. I wish to thank those of you who continually support everything I do in such a positive and passionate manner, and I implore the few of you that sullies the good name of the majority to put an end to this practice that has brought such heartache to me personally. Regards, Ioan". The message is no longer available online due to the closure of Ioanonline.com.] Despite the attempts of the site's owner to broker a solution, Gruffudd ceased funding, which resulted in the website's closure on 30 April 2007. [cite news|author=Marc Baker|title=Gruff tough after Alice blast|url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=gruff-tough-after-alice-blast--&method=full&objectid=19054727&siteid=50082-name_page.html|work=Wales on Sunday (reprinted on icWales.co.uk)|date=2007-05-06 See also http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262521/board/thread/72495563?d=72566791&p=1#72566791. ]

Notes

References

*cite news|last=Hoggard|first=Liz|title=Ioan Gruffudd: Enter the dragon|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/features/ioan-gruffudd-enter-the-dragon-496974.html|work=The Independent|date=2005-07-02
*cite web|title=Ioan Gruffudd biography|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/ioan_gruffudd/pages/biography.shtml|publisher=BBC Wales|accessdate=2008-05-14

External links

*imdb name|id=0344435|name=Ioan Gruffudd
*tvtome person|id=132486|name=Ioan Gruffudd
* [http://www.ioan-central.com Ioancentral] – a fan site

Persondata
NAME = Gruffudd, Ioan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Welsh actor
DATE OF BIRTH = 6 October 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH = Llwydcoed, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =