Paul Rhys
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Born in Neath, Wales in 1963 Paul Rhys studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, but landed a role in a high profile film before he'd even graduated. "Absolute Beginners" (1986) was one of the most expensive films in British history. A period musical featuring David Bowie and Sade, the film was a critical and financial misstep, but gave Rhys a giant springboard. His first lead role was opposite Colin Firth in the British TV movie "Tumbledown" (BBC1, 1988) focusing on the 1982 Falklands War and the injured soldiers who returned to the UK. Rhys delivered another standout performance as Vincent Van Gogh's brother, Theo, in the Robert Altman directed film "Vincent & Theo" (1990) featuring Tim Roth as the famous painter. He played another famous brother in the film "Chaplin" (1993), portraying Charlie Chaplin's brother and manager, Sydney. Rhys continued to work as a character actor, playing supporting roles in big budget features like "From Hell" (2001), and sometimes on series like "Being Human" (BBC3, 2008-2010). He played many real life characters, including Leonardo da Vinci on "Borgia" (Canal+/Sky/Netflix, 2011-2014), spy Aldrich Ames on the British mini-series "The Assets" (ABC, 2014), and Sir John Conroy on the series "Victoria" (ITV, 2016) among others.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1984
Early theater credit, "The Orphan" at the Greenwich Theatre
1984
Spent a season with the Glasgow Citizens Theatre
1986
Feature film debut in Julien Temple's "Absolute Beginners"
1988
Had small role in the epic adaptation of Dickens' "Little Dorrit"
1990
Appeared in "Bent" at the Royal National Theatre
1990
First major film role, Theo Van Gogh in Robert Altman's "Vincent & Theo"
1990
American TV debut, "Tumbledown" (aired on A&E)
1992
Cast as Sydney Chaplin in Richard Attenborough's biopic "Chaplin"
1994
Co-starred in the Donmar staging of Noel Coward's "Design for Living"
1995
Cast as Simon Templar in BBC Radio 4 production of "The Saint"; first time character was featured on radio in over 50 years
1995
Starred in miniseries "Gallowglass" shown on PBS' "Masterpiece Theatre"
1997
Appeared in the acclaimed Channel 4 miniseries "A Dance to the Music of Time"
1997
Played the younger incarnation of A E H Houseman in the stage premiere of Tom Stoppard's "The Invention of Love"
1997
Supported Ian Holm in the National Theatre staging of "King Lear"; reprised role of Edgar in 1998 TV adaptation
1998
Had featured role in the Cannes-screened "Love Lies Bleeding"
1999
Portrayed "Hamlet" at the Young Vic in London; later toured Japan in the role
2000
Had supporting role in the Channel 4 miniseries adaptation of "Anna Karenina"
2001
Undertook villainous role in the feature film "From Hell"
2001
Played leading role of a successful barrister accused of raping a colleague in the two-part British TV drama "The Innocent" (Yorkshire Television)
2001
Had leading role in the BBC adaptation of "The Cazelet Chronicle"
Companions
