Jonathan Rhys-Meyers soon landed a couple of
national commercials, as well a part in Suri Krishnamma's A
Man of No Importance and the lead role of the title character
in Sue Clayton's The Disappearance of Finbar. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers'
big break came with his commanding turn as the steely young
assassin who altered Irish history forever in Neil Jordan's
biopic Michael Collins.
Among Jonathan Rhys-Meyers' subsequent films
were Tim Hunter's The Maker (in his first American role), Guy
Ferland's Telling Lies in America (opposite Brad Renfro), Michael
Radford's B. Monkey, and, gaining him attention at the Cannes
International Film Festival and well beyond, Todd Haynes' phantasmagoric
rock opera Velvet. Goldmine (for which, in-character as "glam
rock" star Brian Slade, he recorded songs for the film
and its soundtrack).
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers next starred in Sandra
Goldbacher's The Governess, Mike Figgis' The Loss of Sexual
Innocence, Ang Lee's Ride with the Devil, Julie Taymor's Titus,
Erik Skjoldbjaerg's Prozac Nation, and Mike Hodges' I'll Sleep
When I'm Dead. He next starred in Sandra Goldbacher's The Governess,
Mike Figgis' The Loss of Sexual Innocence, Ang Lee's Ride with
the Devil, Julie Taymor's Titus, Erik Skjoldbjaerg's Prozac
Nation, and Mike Hodges' I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers' notable telefilms and
miniseries work includes Alfonso Arau's The Magnificent Ambersons
(starring in the lead role of George), Nicolas Roeg's Samson
and Delilah (as the young Samson), Andy Wilson's Gormenghast
(from the Mervyn Peake fantasy novel), and, most recently, Andrei
Konchalovsky's The Lion in Winter (starring opposite Glenn Close
and Patrick Stewart).
