A wiry boyishly handsome actor with piercing blue eyes and curly dark hair, Welsh-born Matthew Rhys has enjoyed success in Great Britain but still hasn't landed that breakout role that would help catapult him to international prominence. At age 16, the Cardiff native joined the National Youth Theatre of Wales and went on to study at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where his childhood pal Ioan Gruffudd was already enrolled. Gruffudd was instrumental in helping Rhys land his first film role; called upon to audition for the part of a disaffected Welsh youth in the feature "House of
