Matthew Rhys

Born: November 1974
Where: Cardiff, Wales, UK

The actor attracted critical accolades for his portrayal of a viciously manipulative Dylan Thomas in the wartime drama The Edge of Love.

He earlier appeared destined to disappoint in a string of routine British gangster failures including Peaches, Shooters and Sorted.

His escape from geezerdom began alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins in Titus followed by The Abduction Club and the lead role in the likeable gangster comedy Fakers.

Born and raised in Wales and the son of teachers, he was educated in the Welsh language at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf.

At seventeen, after playing the lead role of Elvis Presley in a school musical, he was accepted at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

In 1993, he was awarded the Patricia Rothermere Scholarship and made early screen appearances in Back-Up as well as House of America.

Rhys subsequently returned to Cardiff to act in his own language in the Welsh film Bydd yn Wrol (Be Brave), for which he won Best Actor at the Welsh BAFTAs.

In January 1998, he went to New Zealand to star in Greenstone and then landed a role in Julie Taymor's critically acclaimed adaptation of Titus, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange.

Next he played Ray in Peter Hewitt's quirky film comedy, Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?

After returning to Wales, he starred in the The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, a film about a dysfunctional single-parent family in which he played the elder son.

In 2000, he also attracted attention on stage when he appeared opposite a (nude) Kathleen Turner in a revival of The Graduate.

Next came the derivative gangster drama Sorted which was quickly followed by the equally forgettable Peaches and the Guy Ritchie-style Shooters.

Fortunately, he was still landing more challenging roles on the stage and in 2002 he travelled to Ireland to star in the 17th century swashbuckling adventure The Abduction Club.

He played the lead role of Darren Daniels in Tabloid and then returned to New Zealand to shoot the epic drama Lost World for the BBC.

Subsequent roles included the independent horror film Deathwatch in Prague and as a conman in Fakers for director Richard Janes.

In 2006, he played a recurring role as a gay lawyer in the American family drama series Brothers and Sisters.

Recent work includes the role of Dylan Thomas alongside Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller in director John Maybury's The Edge of Love.