Ioan Gruffudd

Birthday: 6 October 1973, Cardiff, Wales, UK

Height: 182 cm

Ioan Gruffudd was born on October 6, 1973 in Cardiff, Wales, UK to educators Gillian (James) and Peter Gruffudd. He has a brother, Alun, who is two years younger and a sister, Siwan, who is seven years younger. He got got his start at age 13 in the Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm (1974). He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1992 to 1995, and was then cast as the title role of the television remake Poldark (1996). After playing Oscar Wilde's lover John Gray in Wilde (1997) and Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in Titanic (1997), Gruffudd became a leading man in the Hornblower series of television movies between 1998 and 2003. He then played Pip in the big budget BBC production of Great Expectations (1999). Other film roles include 102 Dalmatians (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), King Arthur (2004), Amazing Grace (2006), Fantastic Four (2005) and 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).He resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife Alice and their two daughters. Show less «

There's a physicality and confidence to Americans; they're very present. That's something I enjoy be...Show more »

There's a physicality and confidence to Americans; they're very present. That's something I enjoy being around because it rubs off on you. Although an actor friend of mine visited recently and said, "It's no wonder they write such terrible scripts these days, there's no pain! Everything's so nice you can't be bothered." Show less «

As an actor, you have to admit you are a show-off. But with so many magazines like Heat, it's dimini...Show more »

As an actor, you have to admit you are a show-off. But with so many magazines like Heat, it's diminishing the mystery of going to see somebody on the big screen. The less you know about somebody the better. Show less «

I'm determined not to lose my name. It's who I am. It has neither aided my progress nor hampered it....Show more »

I'm determined not to lose my name. It's who I am. It has neither aided my progress nor hampered it. It's just who I am. My character. My make-up. My culture and heritage is a very rich one. So what if it's difficult for people to pronounce? We all learned how to say Schwarzenegger. Show less «

[on Horatio Hornblower]: I think people are attracted to the character because he's not a hero in th...Show more »

[on Horatio Hornblower]: I think people are attracted to the character because he's not a hero in the traditional sense. He's not a natural leader, he's just a young man with a very bright mind. He's compassionate, he hates injustice and he will stand up and fight when he's pushed to the limit. Show less «

As long as you understand that you find happiness through family, friends and love, then money is ju...Show more »

As long as you understand that you find happiness through family, friends and love, then money is just a nice bonus. Show less «

[When asked about continuing to portray Horatio Hornblower]: I would love to play this character thr...Show more »

[When asked about continuing to portray Horatio Hornblower]: I would love to play this character through every stage of his life. I think it would be unique to have an actor playing him from the very early days as a midshipman; through till he's an Admiral. So, I would love to play this character till he perishes. Show less «

In the past, I have felt slightly pigeon-holed with the success of roles like Hornblower, all ruffle...Show more »

In the past, I have felt slightly pigeon-holed with the success of roles like Hornblower, all ruffled shirts and wonderful costumes. I think Launcelot was the turning point because he's more masculine, more dangerous, which goes hand in hand with me growing older. I want longevity, so I'm always trying to escape the way I'm perceived - you know, Ioan the soft-spoken Welshman. Show less «

The arses on the trousers aren't very tight. They're very loose and baggy and I like tight trousers....Show more »

The arses on the trousers aren't very tight. They're very loose and baggy and I like tight trousers. And the shoes - the shoes have got a bit of a heel, and it's a strange sensation for a man. Especially when you're running. He mimes a mincing trot. "I am mighty Hornblower! Watch me run like a girl!" Show less «

I'm auditioning for dozens of parts at the moment, but I'm just not getting them. I can't play someo...Show more »

I'm auditioning for dozens of parts at the moment, but I'm just not getting them. I can't play someone who's 30 any more... maybe 35 at a push. My confidence has really taken a knock, and the worst thing you can do when you're feeling like that is to go to one of these auditions. You really don't want to come across as desperate, so I've been working with a psychologist to help me overcome all that. Show less «

I admitted a long time ago that I wanted to go to Hollywood because there are more opportunities the...Show more »

I admitted a long time ago that I wanted to go to Hollywood because there are more opportunities there, and I wanted to work in movies. Movies are my first love. And that's why I went. I don't feel any added pressure, because I've already admitted it in the first place. It's a nice feeling having people support you because you are a British actor trying to become an international star. Show less «

As a teacher's child, I found that automatic respect for authority wasn't necessarily a good thing. ...Show more »

As a teacher's child, I found that automatic respect for authority wasn't necessarily a good thing. My philosophy was all about pleasing everyone and getting it right, rather than challenging and asking questions. It's only now I'm getting the confidence to do that because, in America, they're not scared as a nation to ask questions and have a really heated debate. Show less «

Being attractive, it's not something I do consciously. It's incredibly flattering that people think ...Show more »

Being attractive, it's not something I do consciously. It's incredibly flattering that people think I appeal to women. But that was a gift from my parents. My acting, my personality - that's what it's about. Show less «

I finished filming Fantastic Four (2005) last Christmas and I haven't worked since then and I'm star...Show more »

I finished filming Fantastic Four (2005) last Christmas and I haven't worked since then and I'm starting to feel a bit angsty and wondering when the next job will come. Of course, you have to have the belief that yes, something will come up but, the reality is, that you just never know. It's that competitive out there. Show less «

I wouldn't want to say that one thing is better than the other. As an actor, you have to love every ...Show more »

I wouldn't want to say that one thing is better than the other. As an actor, you have to love every character you've played. I'm proud of what I've done here. Show less «

I approach every character the same. There's an instinct for each role. Certainly it's not as easy t...Show more »

I approach every character the same. There's an instinct for each role. Certainly it's not as easy to get under the skin of someone like Mr. Fantastic because it's all so technical. It's all about moments, moments of action coupled with a lot of scientific jargon. The trick for me was not to make him too much of a nerd, to show that he does have the potential to be Mr. Fantastic. Show less «

I don't feel the pressure myself. You have to understand that obviously the way you look is influenc...Show more »

I don't feel the pressure myself. You have to understand that obviously the way you look is influencing the casting. Not to sound vain, but you have to have a third eye looking at yourself objectively, asking why you're being cast in these roles. It would be mad not to realize this. I can't change the way I look, and people seem to think it works for the leading man, and I rather enjoy that. Show less «

I was probably doing more to pigeonhole myself as a Welshman and a Welsh actor than anyone else! A l...Show more »

I was probably doing more to pigeonhole myself as a Welshman and a Welsh actor than anyone else! A lot of the stuff I said in the past sounded defensive - a young man's ideals about who I am and where I'm from. I realize I don't have to force that on people, but just use it as a safety net, to stride out into the world knowing that I have a strong sense of identity. Because we're all landlocked in this nation together and we should be celebrating it. Show less «

[on his Titanic (1997) experience]: Yeah, I was lucky because I didn't have to spend hours in freezi...Show more »

[on his Titanic (1997) experience]: Yeah, I was lucky because I didn't have to spend hours in freezing water. There weren't many people my age on set, so Kate (Kate Winslet), Leo (Leonardo DiCaprio) and I hung out together. We would pile into Leo's dressing room, which was full of PlayStations, mini basketball hoops and the like. Show less «

They say the most successful people are the ones who have failed more than they have succeeded.

Ioan Gruffudd

Ioan Gruffudd's FILMOGRAPHY

Ioan Gruffudd'S roles

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