Despite the bad rumors about Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ alleged drug and alcohol abuse, I still really like him. He’s extremely talented and beautiful in that strange too-pretty way some men are. I also think he was utterly robbed of an Oscar nomination a few years ago for that Woody Allen film Match Point.
After a pretty distinguished career in film, Jonathan is a television boy now. He’s on his third season of the Showtime series “The Tudors”, where he plays King Henry VIII, from a young, charismatic king to the bloated glutton that Henry is usually thought of today. The third season sounds pretty good – in this season, I think King Henry meets Anne of Cleves! Jonathan’s out there on promotional duty for “The Tudors“ and for his cologne contract with HUGO, but he’s not giving any comfort to his legions of female fans. Jonathan admitted that he’s not a romantic to People:
He plays a royal with very sensual tastes in the Showtime hit The Tudors, but don’t expect Jonathan Rhys Meyers to emulate Henry VIII’s romantic prowess in real life.
“I’m not a romantic guy at all,” says Rhys Meyers, 31.
But it’s not all bad news for the Irish actor’s female fans.
“It’s not that I don’t believe in romance,” the actor said Friday while promoting the new cologne HUGO Element at Macy’s in New York City. “It’s that I don’t believe in dinner for two by the ocean, walking down the beach holding hands – that version of romance.
“I think I’m probably romantic, but I’m not outwardly romantic. I’m not a player.”
In fact, Rhys Meyers is quick to point out that the British royal wasn’t much of a player either.
“Well, Henry was actually quite a prude,” he says, “I don’t think he’d be remembered as sexy in history.”
But the series is all about “putting a modern-day take on” history, he adds.
In fact, the third season, which premieres April 15, “is better than seasons one and two put together,” says Rhys Meyers. “I go through three wives this season!”
From People Magazine
This might be off-topic, but the History Channel ran a really great documentary series on Henry VIII’s rule and his wives which was just fascinating. I had no idea King Henry stayed married so long to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. I also didn’t realize that Anne Boleyn was so ahead of her time – she was a woman of education and substance who had very serious ideas about the Catholic Church and the proper way to rule a country. The point of the documentary series was the same as “The Tudors” – Henry was once a young, charismatic leader, back in the day, and that the era of his buffoonery came very late in his life.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers is shown launching Hugo Boss: Boss Elements for Men cologne at Macys in NY on 1/30/09. Credit: WENN
I totally get his idea of not believing in walks by the ocean, blah, blah blah. If you need that stuff to feel connected, then you just aren’t with the right person. You should have as much fun together at a grocery store as you do at a dinner out.
I’m confused as to what he’s actually trying to say there. He’s not given to romantic gestures but he’s romantic internally? What does that mean?
Does it mean that on the outside he’s like someone who doesn’t give a damn but he really has romantic yearnings? Does that mean what he finds romantic other people don’t? Or, or??
That could kind of mean anything.
??
you know what’s not romantic? his coked out eyeballs.
what a creepy dude.
I agree that he looks creepy in these pics. Kinda reminds me of Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys. Like he could be kinda hot if he got some outside help, KWIM?
I know anyone can put a band on the ring finger of their right hand but is he married? I didn’t think he was.
oops, I mean left hand.
His little porn ‘stache is GROSS.
Besides that, I go back and forth with whether or not I think he’s hot. It’s about 50/50 with me.
I agree with the whole unromantic gestures but romantic internally. I don’t get swept away by ocean walks, candlelight dinners all that hooha, I’m not sure why, but the strangest little details sweep me off my feet in the same way. Personally, the cliche romantic gestures thing are really fake, and that’s just not my idea of love.
Are his pupils ever large??
Nah, he’s just saying the cliche images of romance don’t float his boat.
When you’re with the right person, it doesn’t matter much where you are or what you’re doing. That’s my kind of romance.
Thanks for the comments on the History Channel and Henry VIII, it looks like it might be a good view.
The 70’s stache trend needs to be over and done with already. Why do these men even think this is attractive?
I have never found this man attractive. He creeps me out.
He’s always had those huge eyes – I even remember one of his first acting gigs, an ad for Erin (or was it Knorr?) soup (remember that one geronimo?) Or in “Michael Collins”. Maybe not as “googly” but still pretty big. I don’t care what he inhales, I think he’s fundamentally a decent bloke and considering that his mother only died a year ago, any benders he went on at that time were understandable.
He can’t be that unromantic, Reena Hammer has stuck with him for ages.
some of us Irish folk have huge eyes,like him. [seriously].
Oh,and bulging eyes can often be seen in PTSD-for some people,it’s sympathetic nervous system on overdrive…yes,post-trauma related symptom,usually related to years of trauma,often childhood/emotional related,rather than one specific incident.
What the..? His eyes aren’t even that big
nope, sorry, guys an ass. creepy-and considering the other comments he’s made about women he was trying to save himself there. you can have this little coked-up toad all to yourself.
I’ve never seen the appeal of him. But The Tudors is pretty good, I love period pieces of that time. When is that history program on?
You know who’s REALLY hot? Henry Cavill. Now that is a man who melts my butter. I watch the Tudors SPECIFICALLY to drool over The Duke of Suffolk.
Sigh.
@Bros, *wink*
I watched History Channel’s The Six Wives… and agree, there were facts that surprised me also. His pursuit of a male heir is understandable, but I think he was a horny old man at heart. Interesting and easy to watch, beautiful costumes.
Ophelia, I’m sure their website would have airing times for it.
This guy creeps me out bad as well. Something in his expressions and body language, and interviews just screams “self-absorbed d!ckweed”.
meh!