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Rhys Owain Evans (Welsh pronunciation: [r̥ɨːs ˈivans]; born 22 July 1967), known as Rhys Ifans, is a Welsh actor. He has portrayed roles in Twin Town (1997), Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), Notting Hill (1999), Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000), Enduring Love (2004), and The Boat That Rocked (2009), in addition to Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), and Grigori Rasputin in The King's Man (2021). His television roles include Hector DeJean in the Epix thriller series Berlin Station, Mycroft Holmes in the CBS series Elementary, and Otto Hightower in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon.

Key Information

Ifans was also formerly the frontman of the rock bands The Peth and Super Furry Animals.

Early life

[edit]

Ifans was born Rhys Owain Evans[1] in Haverfordwest on 22 July 1967,[2] the son of nursery school teacher Beti-Wyn (née Davies) and primary school teacher Eirwyn Evans.[3][4] His younger brother, Llŷr Ifans, is also an actor.[5][6] He grew up in Ruthin,[7] where he received his primary education at Ysgol Pentrecelyn and was raised speaking Welsh as his first language.[8] He attended Ysgol Maes Garmon, a Welsh medium secondary school in Mold, where he took his O levels and A levels.[9] He attended acting classes at Theatr Clwyd.[5] After leaving school, he presented Welsh-language television programmes on S4C.[5] He studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he graduated in 1997.[10]

Career

[edit]

Stage

[edit]

Ifans' early stage work included Hamlet at Theatr Clwyd, A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Regent's Park Theatre, and Under Milk Wood and Volpone at the National Theatre. He appeared at the Donmar Warehouse in 2003's Accidental Death of an Anarchist. In 2006, he returned to the London stage in Michael Grandage's production of Don Juan in Soho at the Donmar Warehouse. In 2016, Ifans played Fool alongside Glenda Jackson in Deborah Warner's production of King Lear, at The Old Vic. He returned to The Old Vic to play Ebenezer Scrooge in Matthew Warchus' production of A Christmas Carol (adapted by Jack Thorne) in 2017 and in 2018 returned to the National Theatre to play King Berenger in Patrick Marber's new adaptation of Eugene Ionesco's Exit the King. Ifans was given the role of Atticus Finch in Aaron Sorkin's To Kill A Mockingbird to begin at London's Gielgud Theatre on 21 May 2020.[11] The play was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was rescheduled for May 2021.[12] The role of Atticus Finch was later given to Rafe Spall due to scheduling conflicts.[13]

Television

[edit]

Ifans appeared in many Welsh-language television programmes before embarking on his film career, including the comedy show Pobol y Chyff [cy], as well as performing at the National Theatre, London and the Royal Exchange, Manchester. In 1990, he presented Stwnsh (Welsh for "Mash"), an anarchic children's quiz programme; 31 fifteen-minute programmes were broadcast on Welsh-language TV channel S4C.[14][15]

In 2000, he narrated the children's animated series Sali Mali for S4C. In 2004, his performance as Peter Cook in the TV film Not Only But Always won him the BAFTA Best Actor at the 2005 British Academy Television Awards.[16]

In 2005, Ifans made a guest appearance for the rock band Oasis in the video for their single "The Importance of Being Idle" (where he mimed to Noel Gallagher's vocals), for which he accepted their award for Video of the Year at the 2006 NME Awards. He has also appeared in the music videos for "God! Show Me Magic" and "Hometown Unicorn" by Super Furry Animals, "Mulder and Scully" by Catatonia, and "Mama Told Me Not to Come" by Tom Jones with Stereophonics.

In 2008, he appeared in "Six Days One June", one of three episodes of the TV series The Last Word Monologues, written by Hugo Blick and broadcast on BBC Two. He played a lonely Welsh farmer trying to free himself from a domineering mother.

From 2016 to 2019, Ifans portrayed hard-nosed American CIA case officer Hector DeJean in the U.S. pay-cable Epix network espionage thriller drama series Berlin Station, filmed on location in Berlin.

Ifans plays Otto Hightower[17] in the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, which premiered 21 August 2022.[18]

Film

[edit]

Following his role as Jeremy Lewis in the Swansea-based movie Twin Town (1997) alongside his brother Llŷr,[19] Ifans gained international exposure in his role as slovenly housemate Spike in the British film Notting Hill (1999). Reportedly, in preparation for the role, Ifans did not wash himself or brush his teeth. He played Adrian, the pompous eldest brother in Little Nicky (2000). Other film roles include: Eyeball Paul in Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000), Nigel in The Replacements (2000), Iki in The 51st State (2001), William Dobbin in Vanity Fair (2004), and Vladis Grutas in Hannibal Rising (2007). He played Jed Parry in the 2004 film version of Ian McEwan's Enduring Love, and the lead role in Danny Deckchair (2003) as Danny Morgan.

Ifans revealed in March 2009 that he was to appear in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010).[20] He played Xenophillius Lovegood, editor of the wizarding magazine The Quibbler and father of the eccentric Luna Lovegood. In the same interview, he announced that he would play the title role in the film Mr. Nice, based on the life of the drug smuggler Howard Marks. He played Nemo Nobody's father in Mr. Nobody, and a villain in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang.

On 11 October 2010 Associated Press confirmed that Ifans would portray the villain in the Spider-Man reboot film The Amazing Spider-Man. The villain was revealed as the Curt Connors / Lizard a few days later, and the film was released in July 2012.[21] In 2015, Ifans starred in She's Funny That Way, directed by Peter Bogdanovich.

Ifans also starred in Steven Bernstein's Last Call, which was released theatrically, followed an extremely long delay, in the US on 25 November 2020. It is a surrealistic biopic, which recreates the life of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas through flashbacks during the famous drinking binge at the White Horse Tavern in New York City which ended fatally during the fall of 1953. It stars Ifans as Thomas alongside John Malkovich, Rodrigo Santoro, Romola Garai, Zosia Mamet, and Tony Hale.

On 16 November 2021 it was revealed, through the film's official trailer, that Ifans would reprise his role as Lizard from The Amazing Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: No Way Home, to be released on 17 December. Later it was revealed that Ifans was not actually present on set and only lent his voice for the character created through digital means, with his human form at the end of the film being from archival footage from The Amazing Spider-Man.[22][23]

Ifans also appeared as Grigori Rasputin in the spy film The King's Man, which was released in December 2021.[24]

Rhys Ifans in 2010

Music

[edit]

Ifans was briefly lead vocalist of the rock band Super Furry Animals before they released any records.[25]

Since 2007, Ifans has sung with the psychedelic rock band The Peth ("peth" is Welsh for "thing"), featuring Super Furry Animals' Dafydd Ieuan, which played a number of concert dates in south Wales and in London in the autumn of 2008. In 2009 the band supported Oasis at a concert in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.[26]

Personal life

[edit]

Ifans dated actress Sienna Miller from 2007 to 2008; Miller had accepted Ifans's marriage proposal before breaking up with him.[27] He dated actress Anna Friel from 2011 to 2014.[28][29]

In September 2012, Ifans became a patron of the Welsh-language Wikipedia,[30] together with Dr Barry Morgan, the then Archbishop of Wales. In 2017, Ifans partnered with Shelter Cymru in a campaign called 7 Ways You Can End Homelessness.[31] He also in 2017 supported the community purchase of Tafarn Sinc, a pub in his native Pembrokeshire that was facing closure.[32]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1996 August Griffiths
1997 Twin Town Jeremy Lewis
1998 Dancing at Lughnasa Gerry Evans
1999 Heart Alex Madden
You're Dead Eddie
Notting Hill Spike
Janice Beard 45 WPM Sean
Hooves of Fire Head Elf Voice
2000 Rancid Aluminium Pete Thompson
Love, Honour and Obey Matthew
Kevin & Perry Go Large Eyeball Paul
Sali Mali Narrator
The Replacements Nigel Gruff
Little Nicky Adrian
2001 Hotel Trent Stoken
Christmas Carol: The Movie Bob Cratchit Voice
The Shipping News Beaufield Nutbeem
Human Nature Puff
The 51st State/Formula 51 Iki
2002 Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Dek
2003 Danny Deckchair Danny Morgan
2004 Vanity Fair William Dobbin
Enduring Love Jed
2005 Midsummer Dream Lysander Voice: English version
Chromophobia Colin
2006 Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties McBunny Voice
2007 Four Last Songs Dickie
Hannibal Rising Grutas
Elizabeth: The Golden Age Robert Reston
2008 Come Here Today Alex
2009 The Informers Roger
The Boat That Rocked Gavin Kavanagh
Mr. Nobody Nemo's Father
2010 Mr. Nice Howard Marks
Greenberg Ivan Schrank
Passion Play Sam Adamo
Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang Uncle Phil
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Xenophilius Lovegood
Exit Through the Gift Shop Narrator
2011 Anonymous Edward de Vere
2012 The Five-Year Engagement Winton Childs
The Amazing Spider-Man Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard[21] Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain
2013 Another Me Don
2014 Serena Galloway
Madame Bovary Monsieur Lheureux
2015 Dominion Dylan Thomas
She's Funny That Way Seth Gilbert
Len and Company Len Black
Under Milk Wood Captain Cat Also producer
2016 Alice Through the Looking Glass Zanik Hightopp
Snowden Corbin O'Brian
2018 The Parting Glass[33] Karl
2019 Official Secrets Ed Vulliamy
2020 Misbehaviour Eric Morley
Last Call Dylan Thomas
2021 La Cha Cha Jeremiah
The Phantom of the Open Keith Mackenzie
Spider-Man: No Way Home Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard[22] Voice, live-action appearance via archive footage
The King's Man Grigori Rasputin
2023 Nyad John Bartlett
Mother, Couch Gruffudd
2024 Venom: The Last Dance Martin Moon
2025 Inheritance Sam
TBA The Scurry Post-production[34]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1991 Spatz Dave 2 episodes
1995 Screen Two Kevin Episode: "Streetlife"
1997 Trial & Retribution Michael Dunn 2 episodes
2000, 2020–present Sali Mali Narrator 2 series
2004 Not Only But Always Peter Cook TV movie
2008 A Number Bernard (B2) TV movie
2011 Neverland James Hook TV movie
2012 The Corrections Gitanas Unaired pilot
2013 Playhouse Presents Chris Episode: "Gifted"
2013–2014 Elementary Mycroft Holmes 7 episodes
2016–2019 Berlin Station Hector DeJean 24 episodes
2021 Temple Gubby Season 2
2022–present House of the Dragon Otto Hightower Main cast

Music videos

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1996 "God! Show Me Magic" Announcer
1997 "Mulder and Scully"
2000 "Mama Told Me Not to Come"
2005 "The Importance of Being Idle" Lazy Man

Honours, awards and nominations

[edit]

On 16 July 2007, he received an Honorary Fellowship of Bangor University, for services to the film industry.[35]

Year Awards Category Work Result ref
2000 53rd British Academy Film Awards BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Notting Hill Nominated [36]
Satellite Awards Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Nominated [36]
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy/Romance Nominated [36]
2005 2005 British Academy Television Awards BAFTA Best Actor (TV) Not Only But Always Won [16][36]
International Emmy Awards International Emmy Award for Best Actor Nominated [37][36]
Empire Awards Best British Actor Enduring Love Nominated [36]
BAFTA Cymru Sian Phillips Award Outstanding Contribution to TV/Film Won [38][36]
2010 Seville European Film Festival Best Actor Mr. Nice Won [39][36]
2012 2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Villain The Amazing Spider-Man Nominated [36]
2015 BAFTA Cymru Best Actor (Yr Actor Gorau) Under Milk Wood Nominated [36]
2017 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival Jury Prize - Best Actor Last Call (Dylan Thomas) Won [36]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Rhys Ifans

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Rhys Ifans (born Rhys Owain Evans; 22 July 1967) is a and renowned for his versatile performances in film, television, and theatre, often portraying complex, eccentric characters with a distinctive intensity. Born in , , , to primary school teacher Eurwyn Evans and nursery school teacher Beti-Wyn, Ifans grew up in a Welsh-speaking family and later adopted the surname spelling "Ifans". A fluent Welsh speaker, he attended Ysgol Pentrececlelyn and Ysgol Maes Garmon before studying acting in , marking the start of a career that blends British independent cinema with major Hollywood productions. Ifans gained international prominence with his breakout role as the chaotic flatmate Spike in the 1999 romantic comedy , opposite , which showcased his comedic timing and earned him widespread recognition. His filmography includes critically acclaimed turns in (1997), (2004), and (2010), as well as villainous roles such as the Lizard in (2012) and its sequel, and Rasputin in (2021). On television, he won a BAFTA Award for for portraying comedian in the 2004 biopic Not Only But Always, and has since starred as in Elementary (2013–2014), Hector DeJean in Berlin Station (2016–2019), and Otto Hightower in HBO's (2022–present). Ifans has also received BAFTA Cymru nominations for in 2015, 2023, and 2025. In recent years, Ifans has continued to diversify his portfolio with roles in films like Nyad (2023) as John Bartlett, Mother, Couch (2023), Venom: The Last Dance (2024), and Inheritance (2025) as Sam. He is set to lead the BBC drama But When We Dance (2025) as Tony Evans, a school deputy head navigating Parkinson's disease, and will portray the Chief Designer of the Soviet space program in the For All Mankind spinoff Star City (upcoming). Beyond acting, Ifans has a musical background, having served as an early frontman for the band Super Furry Animals and later as lead singer of The Peth, whose debut album released in 2008. His theatre work includes a notable 2019 performance in On Bear Ridge at the National Theatre Wales and Royal Court Theatre.

Early life and education

Family background

Rhys Ifans was born Rhys Owain Evans on 22 July 1967 in , , . He later adopted the surname Ifans, derived from the Welsh pronunciation of his original surname Evans, reflecting his deep ties to Welsh linguistic traditions. Ifans is the son of Eirwyn Evans, a primary school , and Beti , a nursery school . He has a younger brother, , who is also an actor and with whom he has collaborated professionally, notably in the 1997 film . The family later relocated to in , where Ifans grew up. Raised in a Welsh-speaking household, Ifans' first language was , and his family placed significant emphasis on preserving Welsh culture and language amid broader societal shifts. This cultural foundation influenced his identity and later advocacy for Welsh heritage.

Schooling and training

Ifans received his primary education at Ysgol Pentrecelyn, a Welsh-medium school in , , where his mother taught and he was immersed in the Welsh language from an early age. He continued his secondary education at Ysgol Maes Garmon, another Welsh-language institution in . During his school years, Ifans developed an interest in performance through participation in school plays and local amateur dramatics, including early involvement with the Drama Society, where he appeared in its inaugural production in 1980 alongside his family. This engagement, influenced by his Welsh-speaking family background, helped foster his passion for acting. After leaving school, Ifans pursued formal acting training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in , graduating in 1989.

Acting career

Stage debut and theatre roles

Rhys Ifans began his professional stage career after training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he honed his skills in classical and contemporary performance techniques. Ifans made his professional debut in 1994 with the Royal Court Theatre, appearing as the Chorus in . The following year, he appeared with the Royal National Theatre for Roger Michell's landmark staging of Dylan Thomas's , marking the first Welsh play performed there and showcasing Ifans in the role of Second Voice; he also appeared as Voltore in Ben Jonson's during the same season. These early London productions represented a pivotal transition for Ifans, who had previously built his foundation in Welsh-language theatre, including roles at Theatr Clwyd in Mold, such as Guildenstern in . Building on this momentum, Ifans took on diverse leading roles in major British theatres throughout the late and . In , he portrayed the manic Mancunian in Dario Fo's at the , earning acclaim for his energetic physicality and comic timing under director . Later stage work included the charismatic DJ in Patrick Marber's in at the in 2006, again under Grandage's direction, which highlighted Ifans's ability to blend wit and seduction. In 2011, he starred as the troubled Thomas Magill in Enda Walsh's one-man show Misterman at the Galway Arts Festival, later transferring to the Shed in New York, demonstrating his command of intense, solo performances. In 2019, Ifans returned to in the leading role of On Bear Ridge by Ed Thomas, first at the Sherman Theatre in and then at the Royal Court Theatre in .

Television appearances

Ifans began his television career in Welsh-language programming, making his small-screen debut in 1990 as the host of Stwnsh, an anarchic children's quiz show broadcast on that featured 31 episodes of 15 minutes each. The program, aimed at young audiences, showcased his early charisma and bilingual skills in presenting chaotic, engaging content for Welsh viewers. A significant breakthrough came in 2004 with his portrayal of the satirical comedian in the biographical television film Not Only But Always, which chronicled the partnership between Cook and . Ifans' performance captured Cook's acerbic wit and personal turmoil, earning critical acclaim for its depth and mimicry, and resulting in a BAFTA Television Award for in 2005 as well as an International Emmy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor. Reviewers praised the role for highlighting Ifans' versatility in embodying complex, flawed historical figures within the biographical format. In recent years, Ifans has achieved international prominence through his role as Ser Otto Hightower, the ambitious Hand of the King, in HBO's (2022–present), a to set in the Targaryen dynasty of Westeros, earning a nomination for Best Actor in 2023. As , Ifans portrays a calculating political operator whose machinations drive much of the series' intrigue, including schemes to secure the Iron Throne for his grandson Aegon II amid familial rivalries and civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. His nuanced depiction of Otto's strategic maneuvering and moral ambiguity has been lauded for adding layers to the show's exploration of power dynamics, with the character central to arcs involving the Greens faction's rise through alliances, betrayals, and courtly deception across the first two seasons and into the ongoing narrative through 2025.

Film roles

Rhys Ifans achieved his breakthrough in film with the role of Terry Lewis in the 1997 Welsh black comedy Twin Town, where he portrayed a delinquent brother alongside his real-life sibling Llyr Ifans, embodying the raw, gritty underbelly of Swansea life through chaotic and rebellious antics. This performance marked his transition from stage to screen, highlighting his ability to channel authentic Welsh working-class energy in a film that blended humor with social commentary. Ifans solidified his comedic persona as Spike, the eccentric and slovenly flatmate to Hugh Grant's character in the 1999 Notting Hill, a role that stole scenes with its irreverent humor and memorable one-liners, contributing to the film's global success as one of the highest-grossing British movies. His portrayal of the laid-back artist type, complete with wild hair and bohemian chaos, became iconic, often cited as a defining turn that showcased his knack for and delivery. Transitioning to more dramatic territory, Ifans played the eccentric Xenophilius Lovegood in and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), depicting Luna Lovegood's father as a quirky intellectual and editor of The Quibbler, whose brief but pivotal appearance introduced the lore of the Deathly Hallows amid the wizarding war's tension. Critics noted his subtle conveyance of the character's otherworldly paranoia and paternal vulnerability, adding depth to the franchise's ensemble. Ifans demonstrated versatility in action blockbusters as Dr. Curt Connors, a brilliant scientist who transforms into the reptilian villain , first in (2012) and reprised in the 2014 sequel, where his character's tragic quest for physical wholeness drove the narrative's moral conflicts. He described the dual role as evoking a Jekyll-and-Hyde dynamic, emphasizing Connors' initial heroism before his monstrous evolution, which informed the films' exploration of science's perils. In more recent dramatic works, Ifans portrayed John Bartlett, the no-nonsense navigator essential to swimmer Diana Nyad's Cuba-to-Florida attempts, in the 2023 biographical drama Nyad, bringing a grounded intensity to the team's high-stakes dynamics during the perilous open-water journey. That same year, he appeared as Gruffudd, one of three estranged siblings grappling with their mother's surreal refusal to leave a furniture store couch, in the indie comedy-drama Mother, Couch, where his portrayal added layers of familial frustration and absurdity to the ensemble's emotional unraveling. Ifans continued in high-profile projects with the role of Martin Moon, an eccentric alien enthusiast and hippie patriarch who aids Eddie Brock's quest in the 2024 superhero film Venom: The Last Dance, infusing the character with whimsical charm during key symbiote-related sequences. In the 2025 spy thriller Inheritance, he played Sam, an enigmatic former operative whose hidden past thrusts his daughter into a global conspiracy, delivering a performance marked by brooding secrecy and paternal regret in the film's iPhone-shot, improvisational style. Ifans received praise for his unsettling depiction of the obsessive stalker Jed Parry in the 2004 psychological thriller Enduring Love, where critics lauded his nuanced modulation of the character's unhinged devotion, turning a potentially caricatured role into a chilling study of fixation that anchored the film's exploration of guilt and trauma. Similarly, his exuberant and demonic portrayal of Grigori Rasputin in the 2021 prequel The King's Man was a highlight amid mixed reviews, with reviewers commending the physicality and manic energy he brought to the historical mystic's manipulative influence during World War I intrigue. These roles underscore Ifans' range, from boisterous comedy to intense drama and villainous spectacle in major franchises.

Music and other ventures

Musical contributions

Rhys Ifans began his musical endeavors in the early 1990s as the lead vocalist for the nascent Welsh rock band , formed in in 1993. During this initial phase, he fronted the group before departing to pursue acting, contributing vocals to their first-ever recording, the psychedelic track "Of No Fixed Identity," captured that summer at Gorwel Owen’s studio on Ynys Môn. The song, blending West Coast harmony-rich , , and synth elements, remained unreleased for nearly three decades until shared it on in March 2022 to support environmental causes, with proceeds aiding the "Save The Severn" campaign. In 2007, Ifans formed the psychedelic rock and blues band The Peth—Welsh for "thing"—alongside Super Furry Animals drummer Dafydd Ieuan and other collaborators including Guto Pryce, Dic Ben, , Meilyr and Osian , and Mick Hilton. The ensemble, known for its intermittent creation of raw, carnage-like , recorded their debut album The Golden Mile sporadically over two years in a studio, drawing inspiration from the gritty locale between the facility and Grangetown. Released in October 2008 by Strangetown Records Inc., the 10-track effort featured songs like "Stonefinger" and "," and was reissued in 2009; the band debuted at intimate Welsh venues such as Bala Golf Club and Llanerfyl Village Hall before progressing to London's area and supporting Oasis at 's Millennium Stadium in 2009. Ifans has sustained ties to the Welsh music scene through performances at festivals like the in the in 2008, where The Peth delivered stoner rock-infused sets amid a celebratory atmosphere. His collaborations extend to projects with Super Furry Animals keyboardist Cian Ciarán, notably the 2016 multimedia work Rhys a Meinir, a musical adaptation of a tragic Welsh folk tale about lovers, featuring Ifans' Welsh-language narration over Ciarán's orchestral score performed by the . Premiering at Cardiff's Hoddinott Hall and touring to venues like Bangor University's Pontio centre, the piece—composed over nearly two decades—integrated poetry by Gruffudd Antur with sweeping, emotive instrumentation to evoke the tale's themes of love and loss set in Nant Gwrtheyrn.

Voice acting and narration

Rhys Ifans has lent his distinctive voice to several animated projects and narrative audio works, often emphasizing his Welsh roots through bilingual performances. In 2000, he narrated the S4C animated children's series Sali Mali, delivering voice-overs in both Welsh and English to bring the whimsical tales of the young farmer's daughter to life for young audiences across the . The following year, Ifans voiced the beleaguered in the animated adaptation Christmas Carol: The Movie, contributing to the film's ensemble of British talent including and , and infusing the role with a poignant quality amid the story's holiday redemption arc. Ifans has also been a prominent narrator for adaptations of classic literature and music, particularly those tied to Welsh culture. In 2013, he provided the narration for Pedr a'r Blaidd, the first Welsh-language recording of Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, performed live and recorded with the 30-piece Ensemble Cymru orchestra, aiming to make the timeless fable accessible to Welsh-speaking children through a translation by Professor Gwyn Thomas. He extended this literary focus in 2015 by serving as the first voice narrator in the soundtrack for Kevin Allen's film adaptation of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, a radio play-turned-feature that captures the dreamlike rhythms of a Welsh village, with Ifans guiding listeners through its poetic monologues alongside a cast including Charlotte Church. Beyond animation and literature, Ifans has narrated documentary-style audio content exploring Welsh history. In 2022, he fronted the podcast Acid Dream: The Great LSD Plot, a six-part series detailing —the 1970s police operation that dismantled a major production ring in rural —drawing on archival interviews and dramatic reenactments to recount the era's countercultural underbelly. He often employs his natural Welsh accent in these roles, a skill honed during his early theater training in and . In video game media, Ifans reprised his role as Dr. Curt Connors/The from (2012) by providing voice work for the tie-in of the same year, enhancing the interactive experience with his gravelly, tormented delivery of the scientist's transformation.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Ifans has maintained a relatively private , avoiding public disclosures about his relationships. He was in a long-term relationship with actress from 2011 to 2014, having met on the set of the miniseries . The couple, who shared a home in during their time together, reportedly considered house-hunting in the , with friends speculating about a potential before their amicable split. Prior to this, Ifans dated actress from 2007 to 2008; the pair became engaged, but the relationship ended due to the demands of their acting careers. He has also been linked briefly to model in 2007, though details remain unconfirmed beyond mutual friendships in 's social circles. As of 2025, Ifans has not married and has no children, a choice he has attributed to prioritizing his career while expressing openness to family in earlier interviews. He values discretion in his romantic life, rarely commenting on partners amid his professional commitments. Ifans shares a close bond with his younger brother, Llŷr Ifans (also known as Llyr Evans), a fellow Welsh actor born in 1968. The siblings, both raised speaking Welsh, collaborated professionally in the 1997 cult film Twin Town, portraying brothers in a story of delinquency in Swansea, which strengthened their familial ties. Llŷr is married to broadcaster Lisa Gwilym, and the brothers maintain a supportive relationship, occasionally appearing together at events. Ifans has described his family as a grounding influence amid his peripatetic career.

Interests and philanthropy

Ifans has demonstrated a strong commitment to the preservation of the , serving as patron of the Living Paths Society since 2012 to promote its development and use in contemporary contexts. He has actively encouraged the creation of more media content in , urging filmmakers to tell stories and introducing music selections during cultural events like Dydd Miwsig Cymru in 2019 and 2021. His first language being , influenced by his teacher parents, has shaped this cultural advocacy. In addition to his professional musical endeavors, Ifans maintains an amateur interest in music, particularly the DIY punk and Welsh-language scenes that captivated him during his youth in . He has endorsed efforts, writing to the World Trade Organisation in 2014 to support the ban on seal fur imports from . Ifans' philanthropic activities focus on education and community support in . In 2010, he donated £1 million to enhance drama facilities in his hometown of . He serves as a patron of the Torch Theatre in and has contributed to projects like a Welsh adaptation of , narrated for children's outreach. In 2017, he backed Cymru's campaign against , producing a bilingual thank-you message to supporters. More recently, he has celebrated initiatives such as the redevelopment of Theatr in Mold and a music program transforming disadvantaged children's lives through performances in 2024 and 2025. In July 2025, he joined community groups and Culture Minister Jack Sargeant to celebrate the £50 million redevelopment of Theatr in Mold, a flagship for . Regarding , Ifans has shared personal reflections on experiencing as a child, advising in a 2015 that addressing such issues requires intervention to prevent long-term harm.

Filmography

Feature films

Rhys Ifans made his feature film debut in 1996 and has since appeared in over 40 cinematic releases, spanning independent Welsh productions to major Hollywood blockbusters. His roles range from supporting characters in early British films to leading and voice parts in international projects. The following is a chronological list of his feature film credits, including roles and release years.
YearTitleRole
1996AugustGriffiths
1996VictoryMartin
1997Twin TownTerry Martin (Welsh co-production)
1998Dancing at LughnasaGerry Evans
1999Notting HillSpike
1999You're Dead...Eddie
1999HeartAlex Madden
2000The ReplacementsNigel "The Leg" Gruff
2000Rancid AluminiumPete Thompson
2000Kevin & Perry Go LargeEyeball Paul
2000Little NickyAdrian
2001Love, Honour and ObeyMatthew
2001The 51st StateIki
2001Human NaturePuff
2001HotelTrent
2001The Shipping NewsBeaufield Nutbeem
2003Danny DeckchairDanny Morgan
2004Vanity FairWilliam Dobbin
2004Enduring LoveJed Parry
2004The Big WhiteRaymond Barnell
2005ChromophobiaTrent
2006Garfield: A Tail of Two KittiesMcBunny (voice)
2007Hannibal RisingVladis Grutas
2007The Last LegionOdoacer
2008The InformersRoger
2008Elizabeth: The Golden AgeRobert Reston
2009The Boat That RockedGavin Kavanagh
2010Nanny McPhee and the Big BangUncle Phil
2010GreenbergIvan Schrank
2010Passion PlaySam Adamo
2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1Xenophilius Lovegood
2011AnonymousEdward de Vere, Earl of Oxford
2011Green LanternDr. Hector Hammond
2012The Amazing Spider-ManDr. Curt Connors / The Lizard
2013The Five-Year EngagementWinton Childs
2013Another MeDon
2014SerenaPreacher
2015Madame BovaryMonsieur Lheureux
2015The Riot ClubLord Richford
2016Alice Through the Looking GlassZanik Hightopp
2016SnowdenCorbin O'Brian
2018The Parting GlassKarl
2019Official SecretsEd Vulliamy
2020MisbehaviourEric Morley
2021The King's ManGrigori Rasputin
2021The Phantom of the OpenKeith Mackenzie
2021Spider-Man: No Way HomeDr. Curt Connors / The Lizard
2022The Gray ManLaszlo Sosa
2023NyadJohn Bartlett
2023Mother CouchGruffudd
2023The Dead Don't HurtAlfred Jeffries
2024Venom: The Last DanceMartin
2025InheritanceSam

Television series and specials

Ifans began his television career hosting the Welsh-language children's quiz show Stwnsh on in 1990, appearing in all 31 episodes of the series. In 2000, he provided narration for the animated children's series Sali Mali, voicing the stories in both Welsh and English versions across 26 episodes. His breakthrough English-language television role arrived in 2004 with the biographical special Not Only But Always, where he portrayed satirist opposite as ; the performance earned him a BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor. After a period focused on film, Ifans returned to series television in 2013, playing Mycroft Holmes in five episodes of the CBS procedural Elementary during its second season. From 2016 to 2019, he starred as the cynical CIA operative Hector DeJean in all 24 episodes of the Epix espionage thriller Berlin Station, serving as a series regular across its three seasons. Ifans achieved further prominence in 2022 as Ser Otto Hightower, the cunning Hand of the King, in HBO's House of the Dragon; as of November 2025, he has appeared in 13 episodes across the first two seasons of the ongoing series, with season 3 expected in 2026.

Music videos and shorts

Rhys Ifans has made notable appearances in music videos, often tied to his early involvement with the Welsh music scene, including his brief stint as lead vocalist for in the mid-1990s. His contributions to these visuals frequently featured playful or surreal elements reflective of the era's aesthetic. In 1996, Ifans appeared in two music videos for , the band he co-founded before pursuing acting full-time. For "God! Show Me Magic," directed by Pedro Romhanyi, he featured prominently in the whimsical, psychedelic narrative that complemented the track's energetic pop sound. Similarly, in "Hometown Unicorn," also from 1996 and directed by Brian , Ifans had a cameo role amid the band's fantastical imagery of mythical creatures and locales. Ifans extended his Welsh music connections with a cameo in Catatonia's video for "Mulder and Scully," directed by Gerald McMorrow. The clip, inspired by , depicted the band performing while FBI agent look-alikes searched a venue, with Ifans appearing briefly in the chaotic, torch-lit scenes. This appearance highlighted his ties to the burgeoning Welsh pop scene. Venturing beyond Welsh acts, Ifans starred as a laid-back slacker in Oasis's 2005 video for "The Importance of Being Idle," directed by Nigel Dick. Dressed in a parka and wandering through Manchester, his performance mirrored the song's indolent vibe and drew from his role in the film Kevin & Perry Go Large. The video became a staple of the band's Don't Believe the Truth era. Ifans has also acted in several short films, showcasing his range in experimental and narrative-driven formats under 40 minutes. In the 1997 BBC short The Sin Eater, directed by Terence Gross, he portrayed the titular figure who consumes the sins of the dead through ritualistic meals, exploring themes of grief and isolation opposite Josie Lawrence. The neo-gothic piece aired as part of a shorts anthology. A standout independent short is the 2011 Film4 production The Organ Grinder's Monkey, directed by Dinos Chapman with a screenplay by Jake Chapman. Ifans played Rhys, an angst-ridden artist overshadowed by a talented companion, in this satirical 15-minute hybrid featuring voice work from and cameos by and . The film critiqued artistic pretension and received acclaim at festivals for its dark humor. More recent shorts include The Stella Wolfman (2017), a Halloween-themed promotional piece for Stella McCartney directed by Philippa Price, where Ifans embodied a in a stylish, fashion-forward narrative. In 2023, he appeared in Fionna, directed by Rafa Cortés, a dramatic short exploring interpersonal tensions with co-stars Vicky Luengo and . These works demonstrate Ifans's continued interest in concise, visually striking projects up to 2025.
YearTitleRole/AppearanceDirectorNotes
1996God! Show Me Magic ()AppearancePedro RomhanyiPsychedelic promo tied to early band involvement
1996Hometown Unicorn ()CameoBrian CannonMythical Cardiff-themed video
1998Mulder and Scully ()CameoGerald McMorrowX-Files parody with venue search
2005The Importance of Being Idle (Oasis)LeadSlacker character in Manchester settings
1997The Sin EaterThe Sin EaterTerence GrossBBC gothic short on ritual and loss
2011The Organ Grinder's MonkeyRhysDinos ChapmanSatirical artist tale with ensemble cameos
2017The Stella WolfmanWerewolfPhilippa PriceFashion promo short
2023FionnaSupportingRafa CortésDramatic independent short

Awards and nominations

Accolades for television

Rhys Ifans' television work has garnered significant recognition, particularly from and international awards bodies, highlighting his versatility in dramatic and biographical roles. His breakthrough television accolade came for portraying comedian in the 2004 Channel 4 biopic Not Only But Always, where he received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor at the . This performance also earned him the BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor in 2005. Early in his career, Ifans hosted the Welsh-language children's program Stwnsh and appeared in various Welsh television productions, contributing to his receipt of the Sian Phillips Award from BAFTA Cymru in 2005 for outstanding contribution to television, film, and new media. In 2015, Ifans received a BAFTA Cymru nomination for Best Actor for his role in the television adaptation of Under Milk Wood. More recently, Ifans' role as the calculating Otto Hightower in HBO's has led to consecutive nominations for , first in 2023 for the series' debut season and again in 2025 for season two, underscoring his impact in high-profile supporting roles. These nominations reflect the critical acclaim for his commanding presence in the fantasy drama, which has elevated Welsh representation in global television.

Recognitions for film and stage

This early recognition underscored his ability to blend humor and menace in independent productions. His performance [in Enduring Love] was also nominated for the Empire Award for Best British Actor, further affirming his impact on contemporary British film. Ifans' turn as the villainous Dr. Curt Connors/ in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) brought him international attention; the film received Saturn Award nominations for its innovative effects and storytelling. More recently, his supporting role as navigator John Bartlett in the ensemble drama Nyad (2023) contributed to the film's acclaim, including Oscar nominations for its leads and recognition for the cast's cohesive portrayal of perseverance and teamwork. On stage, Ifans has been considered for Olivier Awards for his dynamic theatre work. His later performances, including a Olivier-nominated production of at in 2017, showcased his versatility in adapting literary roles for modern audiences.

References

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