Welsh-speaker, has starred in many Welsh language dramas, comedies and entertainment programmes (for Welsh-language channel S4C)
Both he and his brother Llyr Ifans are from Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales, UK
His first language is Welsh and at one time he went to the all Welsh speaking school, Maes Garmon.
Has performed at the National Theatre and the Royal Exchange, Manchester.
Name is pronounced Reese Ee-vans.
Left Wales at age 18 to study acting in London.
His former girlfriend is the publicist Jess Morris
Was the original lead singer for the band Super Furry Animals, leaving before the band became well known.
Has appeared in several rock promos: "God Show Me Magic" by the Super Furry Animals (1996), "Mulder and Scully" by Catatonia (1998), "Mama Told Me Not To Come" by Tom Jones and the Stereophonics (2000), and "The Importance of Being Idle" by Oasis (2005).
Has donated nearly a million pounds to Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin, Denbighshire in order to provide a stage and better drama facilities.
Rhys Ifans Detailed Biography
Rhys Ifans made a big impression on both critics and audiences worldwide with his performance as ‘Spike', Hugh Grant's untidy roommate, in the smash hit romantic comedy NOTTING HILL, also starring Julia Roberts.
Ifans most recent credits include HUMAN NATURE, directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman of BEING JOHN MALKOVICH fame; ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE MIDLANDS directed by Shane Meadows; THE SHIPPING NEWS with Kevin Spacey directed by Lasse Hallstrom; LITTLE NICKY for New Line Cinema and THE REPLACEMENTS starring Keanu Reeves.
Other film credits include Anthony Hopkins' AUGUST; STREETLIFE; THE SIN EATER; TWIN TOWN; DANCING AT LUGHNASA; YOU'RE DEAD, LOVE, HONOR AND OBEY and KEVIN AND PERRY GO LARGE.
Ifans' extensive theatre work includes The Government Inspector and Hamlet at Theatre Clwyd in his hometown, and then on to such British productions as A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Regent Park, Poison Pen and Smoke at the Royal Exchange, Thyestes at the Royal Court, Beautiful Thing, at the Duke of York's, Under Milk Wood and Volpone at the Royal National and Bad Finger, at Donmar Warehouse. His television appearances both in England and Wales have included Shakespeare Shorts, The Two Franks, Judas and the Gimp and Spatz. He was a series regular on both Night Shift and Review.
A native of Clwyd, Wales, Ifans, to whom Welsh is a first language, studied at the Guildhall School.
