Ioan Gruffudd
Birth name	Ioan Gruffudd
Born	October 6, 1973 (1973-10-06) (age 33) Cardiff, Wales
Years active	1986–present
Partner(s)	Alice Evans

Ioan Gruffudd (pronounced [ˈjɘʊæn ˈgrɪfɪð], yoe'-an gri'-fidh) (born October 6, 1973) is a British actor from Wales. Educated at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he came to international attention as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the film Titanic (1997). However, he is probably best known for playing the role of Horatio Hornblower in Hornblower, the made-for-TV films (1998–2003) based on C.S. Forester's novels. is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wales_2. ... This article is about the capital city of Wales. ... This article is about the country. ... Alice Jane Evans (born August 2, 1971) is an actress. ... This chart shows concisely the most common way in which the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is applied to represent the English language. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... This article is about the country. ... RADAs theatre in London The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in Bloomsbury, London, is generally regarded as the most prestigious drama school in the world. ... Harold Lowe Harold Godfrey Lowe (born November 21, 1882 - died May 12, 1944) is best known as one of the RMS Titanics surviving officers. ... Titanic is a 1997 American romantic drama film directed, written, and co-produced by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Cecil Scott Forester is the pen name of Cecil Smith (August 27, 1899 - April 2, 1966), an English novelist whose rose to fame with tales of adventure with military themes, notably the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series (being filmed with Ioan Gruffudd as Horatio Hornblower) about naval warfare during the...

Gruffudd's recent notable film roles include Lancelot in King Arthur (2004), Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic in Fantastic Four (2005) and the sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and British slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce in Amazing Grace (2006). He bears a resemblance to another actor - David Conrad. For other uses, see Lancelot (disambiguation). ... King Arthur is a film first released in the United States on June 28, 2004, dubbed as The Untold True Story That Inspired The Legend by Touchstone Pictures. ... Mister Fantastic is a Marvel Comics superhero who is the leader of the Fantastic Four. ... Fantastic Four is a 2005 movie based on the Marvel Comics comic Fantastic Four, directed by Tim Story and released by 20th Century Fox. ... Slave redirects here. ... This English poster depicting the horrific conditions on slave ships was influential in mobilizing public opinion against slavery. ... William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was an English politician, philanthropist, and abolitionist who led the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade. ... Amazing Grace is a 2007 film directed by Michael Apted about the campaign against the slave trade in 19th century Britain, led by famous abolitionist William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament. ... David Conrad (born 17 August 1967) is an American actor born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ...

Biography

Early life and family

Gruffudd was born on 6 October 1973 in the village of Llwydcoed near the town of Aberdare, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Mid Glamorgan, south Wales. His family later moved to Cardiff. The popular Welsh name "Ioan" is an equivalent of "John", and "Gruffudd" corresponds to the Anglicized "Griffith". He has been quoted as saying, "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."^[1] is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Llwydcoed is a village near Aberdare, in Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... County borough was a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom to refer to a borough or a city independent of county administration. ... Rhondda Cynon Taff (Welsh: Rhondda Cynon T f) is a county borough in Glamorgan, South Wales. ... Mid Glamorgan is a ceremonial preserved county of Wales, one of the divisions of the traditional county of Glamorgan. ... This article is about the country. ... This article is about the capital city of Wales. ... Look up John, john in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Anglicized refers to foreign words, often surnames, that are changed from a foreign language into English. ... Griffith can refer to: People with the surname Griffith: Andy Griffith, American actor, writer, producer D.W. Griffith, American film director Emile Griffith, first World Boxing Champion Frederick Griffith who discovered a transforming principle, later shown to be DNA. David Griffith, an American writer George Griffith, writer Melanie Griffith, American... Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): ) (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, and politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of the U.S. state of California. ...

Gruffudd's parents, Peter and Gillian Gruffudd, were teachers. He has two siblings — a brother, Alun, who is two years younger, and a sister, Siwan, who is seven years younger than he is.

Education

Gruffudd attended Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdar (Ynyslwyd) now situated in Cwmdare, Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, where he sat his GCSEs and A-Levels. A natural musician, he was an accomplished oboist in his teens, attaining a Grade 8 level in the ABRSM music examinations,^{[citation needed]} but gave it up once acting took up most of his time.^[2] He also won prizes for his singing while at school. He has said, "As a Welshman, I grew up in a culture of singing and performing with music, and I think it was through this performing that I got my confidence as an actor."^[3] Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf (Welsh: Glantaf Welsh Comprehensive School) is the largest Welsh-medium school in Wales. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in the United Kingdom, usually taken by students during the optional final two years of secondary school (Years 12 & 13, commonly called the Sixth Form), or at a separate sixth form college or further education college... An oboist is a musician who plays the oboe. ... The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music or ABRSM is an educational body that provides examinations in music. ...

Career

Gruffudd started his acting career at the age of 12 in a Welsh television film called Austin (1986) and then later moved on to the Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley) from 1987 to 1994. At the age of 18, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. He won his first major English language role a few years later in the 1996 TV remake of Poldark. For Philippine soap opera, see Teleserye. ... Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley) is a Welsh language television soap opera produced by the BBC since October 1974. ... RADAs theatre in London The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in Bloomsbury, London, is generally regarded as the most prestigious drama school in the world. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Poldark is a series of historical novels by Winston Graham, and a popular BBC television series of the 1970s based on the books. ...

After playing Oscar Wilde's lover John Gray in 1997's Wilde he took his first international role as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the blockbuster film Titanic. He later landed his best-known role as Horatio Hornblower in Hornblower, the Meridian production of the C.S. Forester novels (1998–2003), shown on ITV1 and A&E. Gruffudd has said: "It was quite something for an unknown actor to get the lead. So I will always be grateful to 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."^[3] Since February 20, 2007, Gruffudd has been making plans to obtain rights to the Horatio Hornblower novels in order to produce a film for the big screen.^{[citation needed]} Oscar Fingal OFlahertie Wills Wilde (October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and author of short stories. ... John Gray (March 2nd,1866 – June 14th,1934) was an English poet whose works include Silverpoints, The Long Road and Park: A Fantastic Story. ... Harold Lowe Harold Godfrey Lowe (born November 21, 1882 - died May 12, 1944) is best known as one of the RMS Titanics surviving officers. ... Titanic is a 1997 American romantic drama film directed, written, and co-produced by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Meridian is the ITV station for the South and South East of England. ... Cecil Scott Forester is the pen name of Cecil Smith (August 27, 1899 - April 2, 1966), an English novelist whose rose to fame with tales of adventure with military themes, notably the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series (being filmed with Ioan Gruffudd as Horatio Hornblower) about naval warfare during the... ITV1 is the name, in England, Wales and the Scottish borders, for a terrestrial, free-to-air television channel, broadcast in the United Kingdom by the ITV network. ... Biography is one of A&Es longest-running and most popular programs. ... is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Gruffudd's TV work includes playing the character Pip in the BBC TV production of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations (1999) and architect Philip Bosinney in ITV's adaptation of The Forsyte Saga (2002). As regards films, he has starred in 102 Dalmatians (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), King Arthur (2004), and Fantastic Four (2005). In 2007 he starred in the historical drama Amazing Grace as William Wilberforce, the British slavery abolitionist, receiving critical acclaim for the role. Gruffudd also reprised his role as Mister Fantastic for the sequel to Fantastic Four titled Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... “Dickens” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Great Expectations (disambiguation). ... Independent Television (generally known as ITV, but also as ITV Network) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK. Since 1990 and the Broadcasting... DVD cover to The Forsyste Saga (series 1) The Forsyte Saga is a miniseries, produced by Britains Independent Television network (ITV) and later broadcast as part of Masterpiece Theatre, based on a series of novels by John Galsworthy. ... 102 Dalmatians is a 2000 live-action film, produced by The Walt Disney Company and starring Glenn Close as the villainous Cruella de Vil. ... Black Hawk Down is a 2001 film by Ridley Scott, based on the book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden. ... King Arthur is a film first released in the United States on June 28, 2004, dubbed as The Untold True Story That Inspired The Legend by Touchstone Pictures. ... Fantastic Four is a 2005 movie based on the Marvel Comics comic Fantastic Four, directed by Tim Story and released by 20th Century Fox. ... Amazing Grace is a 2007 film directed by Michael Apted about the campaign against the slave trade in 19th century Britain, led by famous abolitionist William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament. ... William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was an English politician, philanthropist, and abolitionist who led the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade. ... Slave redirects here. ... This English poster depicting the horrific conditions on slave ships was influential in mobilizing public opinion against slavery. ...

Apart from television and film work, he also starred in the music video of Westlife's version of "Uptown Girl" (2001) alongside Claudia Schiffer, and on 7 July 2007 he was a presenter at the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London. A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ... This article is about the band. ... Uptown Girl is a song performed by musician Billy Joel. ... Claudia Schiffer (born August 25, 1970 [2]) is a German supermodel and actress, who reached the height of her popularity during the 1990s. ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Live Earth concert in the United Kingdom was held at Wembley Stadium, London, England on 7 July 2007. ... Live Earth was a series of worldwide concerts held on July 7, 2007, that initiated a three-year campaign to combat climate change and advocate environmentally-sustainable living. ... Wembley Stadium is a football stadium in Wembley, London, England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Gruffudd is a native Welsh speaker. He was accepted into the Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain (the Bardic Order of Great Britain) at the highest rank in the National Eisteddfod at Meifod, Mid Wales, in 2003, with the bardic name "Ioan". Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... A gorsedd (SAMPA /gO:rsED/), occasionally spelled gorseth, plural gorseddau, is a community of bards. ... The Eisteddfod (literally sitting) is a Welsh festival of literature, music, and song. ... Meifod is a small village 7 miles north-west of Welshpool in mid Wales on the A495 road and located in the valley of the River Vyrnwy. ... Mid Wales is the name given to the area of Wales between North Wales and South Wales. ... A bardic name is a pseudonym used, in Wales, by poets and other artists, especially those involved in the eisteddfod movement. ...

Personal life

Gruffudd lives with his fiancée, British actress Alice Evans, in Los Angeles, California. The couple, who met during the production of 102 Dalmatians, are due to marry in September 2007.^{[citation needed]} Although Gruffudd is homesick for Wales and misses his friends in London, he enjoys being in Los Angeles because "it's the easiest place in the world to drive, and it's a real pleasure to do that in my black Jag XK8. I've gone all out."^{[citation needed]} He also admires the physicality and confidence of Americans, and enjoys being around them because he feels these qualities rub off on to him.^[4] Alice Jane Evans (born August 2, 1971) is an actress. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Jaguar XK series (XK8 and XKR) is a grand tourer produced by British carmaker Jaguar since the 1997 model year. ...

Gruffudd has said that he enjoys playing golf, reading and going to the movies: "I like to escape. I'll go to movies on my own and watch two in a row, sometimes. I like to go off in, sort of, dreamland."^{[citation needed]} This article is about the sport. ...

In April 2007, Gruffudd removed funding from his largest fan-site, Ioanonline.com, due to comments made about Evans on the site, and elsewhere on the Internet, which angered her. In March 2007, Gruffudd posted a message on Ioanonline.com that started with "Dear All", and expressed disappointment about the "small minority" of fans that had behaved in a "despicable manner" by levelling "unpleasant and sometimes vitriolic comments" at his fiancée.^[5] The cessation of funding resulted in the website's closure on 30 April 2007.^[6] is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Filmography

Gruffudd as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the 1997 film Titanic.

Image File history File links Titanic33. ... Image File history File links Titanic33. ... Harold Lowe Harold Godfrey Lowe (born November 21, 1882 - died May 12, 1944) is best known as one of the RMS Titanics surviving officers. ... Titanic is a 1997 American romantic drama film directed, written, and co-produced by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. ... The year 1974 in television involved some significant events. ... Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley) is a Welsh language television soap opera produced by the BBC since October 1974. ... A television program (US), television programme (UK) or simply television show is a segment of programming in television broadcasting. ... The year 1986 in television involved some significant events. ... This is a list of television-related events in 1996. ... Poldark is a series of historical novels by Winston Graham, and a popular BBC television series of the 1970s based on the books. ... The year 1997 in film involved some significant events. ... The year 1997 in film involved some significant events. ... Titanic is a 1997 American romantic drama film directed, written, and co-produced by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. ... Harold Lowe Harold Godfrey Lowe (born November 21, 1882 - died May 12, 1944) is best known as one of the RMS Titanics surviving officers. ... For other uses, see Titanic. ... The year 1998 in television involved some significant events. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The year 1998 in television involved some significant events. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... The year 1999 in television involved some significant events. ... Warriors (1999) is a British television drama serial, written by Peter Kosminsky. ... The year 1999 in television involved some significant events. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... The year 1999 in television involved some significant events. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... The year 1999 in television involved some significant events. ... For other uses, see Great Expectations (disambiguation). ... The year 1999 in film involved some significant events. ... Solomon & Gaenor is a movie released in 1999. ... This is a list of television-related events in 2000. ... The Miracle Maker (Russian: , Chudotvorets) is a British/Russian stop motion-animated film about the life of Jesus Christ, directed by Derek Hayes and Stanislav Sokolov. ... A voice actor (also a voice artist) is a person who provides voices for animated characters (including those in feature films, television series, animated shorts), voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides. ... The year 2000 in film involved some significant events. ... 102 Dalmatians is a 2000 live-action film, produced by The Walt Disney Company and starring Glenn Close as the villainous Cruella de Vil. ... For the 1968 science-fiction film and novel, see 2001: A Space Odyssey The year 2001 in film involved some significant events. ... Another Life is a 2001 UK Independent murder mystery film written and directed by Peter Goodhew. ... For the 1968 science-fiction film and novel, see 2001: A Space Odyssey The year 2001 in film involved some significant events. ... For the 1968 science-fiction film and novel, see 2001: A Space Odyssey The year 2001 in film involved some significant events. ... This is a list of television-related events in 2001. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... This is a list of television-related events in 2001. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... For the 1968 science-fiction film and novel, see 2001: A Space Odyssey The year 2001 in film involved some significant events. ... Black Hawk Down is a 2001 film by Ridley Scott, based on the book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War by Mark Bowden. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2002. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2002. ... The Gathering film poster The Gathering is a 2002 thriller/horror film directed by Brian Gilbert. ... The year 2002 in television involved some significant events. ... Man and Boy is a play by Terence Rattigan. ... The year 2002 in television involved some significant events. ... DVD cover to The Forsyste Saga (series 1) The Forsyte Saga is a miniseries, produced by Britains Independent Television network (ITV) and later broadcast as part of Masterpiece Theatre, based on a series of novels by John Galsworthy. ... This is a list of television-related events in 2003. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... This is a list of television-related events in 2003. ... Hornblower is the umbrella title of an acclaimed series of television drama programmes loosely based on C. S. Foresters novels about the fictional character Horatio Hornblower, a British naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. ... The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. ... This Girls Life is a 2003 Showtime movie written and directed by Ash. ... The year 2004 in television involved some significant events. ... Century City is an American science fiction-legal drama television series set in Los Angeles in the year 2030. ... The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. ... King Arthur is a film first released in the United States on June 28, 2004, dubbed as The Untold True Story That Inspired The Legend by Touchstone Pictures. ... For other uses, see Lancelot (disambiguation). ... This is a list of film-related events in 2005. ... Fantastic Four is a 2005 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics comic Fantastic Four. ... Mister Fantastic is a Marvel Comics superhero who is the leader of the Fantastic Four. ... // Please note that following the tradition of the English language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the United States and Canada in 2006; because they may have made most of their income in a later year, they may not be the top-grossing... The TV Set is an up-coming movie, due to be released somtime in 2006; which is currently in post-production. ... // Please note that following the tradition of the English language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the United States and Canada in 2006; because they may have made most of their income in a later year, they may not be the top-grossing... Amazing Grace is a 2007 film directed by Michael Apted about the campaign against the slave trade in 19th century Britain, led by famous abolitionist William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament. ... William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was an English politician, philanthropist, and abolitionist who led the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade. ... 2007 has been referred to, by film and media critics, as the year of the threequels, a nickname referring to both the 2004 summer movie season and several film franchises from that year, which again appear this year: Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Oceans Thirteen, Resident Evil: Extinction... Mister Fantastic is a Marvel Comics superhero who is the leader of the Fantastic Four. ... 2008 in film is expected to feature another battle of the sequels, as many properties release new installments, including: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Indiana Jones 4, The Incredible Hulk, The Mummy 3, The Dark Knight, Jurassic Park 4, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Bond 22, Madagascar 2: The... Fireflies in the Garden is an upcoming 2008 drama film starring Julia Roberts and Ryan Reynolds. ...

Notes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Ioan Gruffudd at the Internet Movie Database
• Ioan Gruffudd at TV.com