Rhys Ifans

Born: July 22 1968
Where: Rhuthun, Wales, UK

Ifans made an indelible impression when he confronted a crowd of photographers in his Y-fronts as Hugh Grant's flat mate Spike in Notting Hill.

Subsequent big screen roles have included deranged stalker Jed in Enduring Love and spurned admirer William Dabbin in Vanity Fair.

The son of teachers, he learned to speak fluent Welsh as his first language after being educated at the Maes Garmon Welsh-speaking school.

At 13 he changed his name from Evans to Ifans "just to be difficult and different" and joined a youth theatre as well as acting on Welsh TV.

He was also the original vocalist with Welsh rockers Super Furry Animals but quit to pursue an acting career.

At 18 he left for London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and made his national TV debut in the children's series Spatz.

He made his big screen debut in the drama Streetlife in 1995 and the following year featured in Anthony Hopkins' directorial debut August, a 19th century adaptation of Chekov's Uncle Vanya.

His big breakthrough came a year later in Twin Town, a dark comedy in which he and brother Llyr starred as troublemaking brothers.

TV work followed and he also appeared in the big screen adaptation of the play Dancing at Lughnasa as well as the thriller Heart with Christopher Ecclestone.

His profile was raised when Richard Curtis cast him as the unkempt Spike in Notting Hill but subsquent movie choices - You're Dead and Rancid Aluminium - didn't do his career any favours.

In 2000, he stared in London gangster thriller Love, Honour & Obey as well as Harry Enfield spin-off Kevin & Perry Go Large.

He also appeared alongside Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman in the American football drama The Replacements.

Subsequent appearances included the Adam Sandler comedy Little Nicky and Charlie Kaufman and Michael Gondry's comedy Human Behaviour with Patricia Arquette.

In 2001, he starred in Mike Figgs's experimental Hotel and also voiced Bob Cratchit in the animated Christmas Carol: The Movie.

The same year he also appeared alongside Samuel L Jackson in the British thriller The 51st State and Newfoundland-set drama The Shipping News with Kevin Spacey.

In 2003, he starred opposite Miranda Otto in the Australian comedy Danny Deckchair after completing Shane Meadows' Once Upon A Time in the Midlands.

Recent work includes Enduring Love with Daniel Craig and Samantha Morton and Mira Nair's adaptation of Thackeray's Vanity Fair with Reese Witherspoon.