Jonathan Rhys Meyers
An Irish actor whose smoldering intensity and chameleonic talent brought volatile kings and rock icons to life on screen.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Irish actor·Birthday: July 27·Generation X
Biography
Born in Dublin and raised in County Cork, Jonathan Rhys Meyers's path to acting was unconventional, discovered by a casting agent while waiting in a line. His early roles were marked by a raw, electric presence, from the glam-rock ambiguity of 'Velvet Goldmine' to the simmering ambition in Woody Allen's 'Match Point.' He achieved a new level of fame by embodying two vastly different cultural titans: a magnetic, troubled Elvis Presley in a miniseries that won him a Golden Globe, and a virile, ruthless King Henry VIII in the historical drama 'The Tudors.' His career is a study in controlled volatility, often playing characters whose charm masks a dangerous inner turmoil, making him a compelling and unpredictable screen presence.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jonathan was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jonathan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Jonathan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Elvis Presley in the 2005 CBS miniseries 'Elvis.'
- Earned two Golden Globe nominations for his leading role as King Henry VIII in the Showtime series 'The Tudors.'
- Starred in Woody Allen's critically acclaimed thriller 'Match Point,' a key role in his film career.
Did You Know?
He was expelled from school at age 16 and worked odd jobs before being discovered.
He is a passionate supporter of the English football club Manchester United.
He provided the voice for the character of Miguel in the animated film 'The Emperor's New Groove.'
“I'm not a method actor. I don't need to live as the character. I just need to understand him.”
