Ioan Gruffudd
Welsh Actor Ioan Gruffudd (Pronounced YO-an GRIFF-ith) was born in Cardiff, Wales, UK on October 6, 1973. His parents, Peter and Gillian Gruffudd were educators. He has a brother, Alun, who is two years younger and a sister, Siwan, who is 7 years younger. Gruffudd got his start at age 14 in the Welsh Soap Opera, 'People of the Valley' (Pobol y Cwm in the original Welsh version). Next, at 18 he won a spot at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). His won his first role a few years later in the British TV film, Poldark (1996) (TV).
After playing Oscar Wilde's gay lover in Wilde (1997), he got his first international role as Fifth Officer Lowe in the blockbuster Titanic (1997). He later got his mostely known role as Horatio Hornblower in the ITV production of the C.S. Forrester . Next, he played Pip in the big budget BBC production of Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens (1999) (TV). He has also starred in 102 Dalmatians, ITV's adaptation of The Forsyte Saga, Black Hawk Down, and King Arthur. At presently, Ioan shares a flat in London with old friend and fellow Welsh actor Matthew Rhys. Had also the honor of lighting the National Millennium Beacon for Wales in Cardiff City Centre for the New Year's Eve 2000 celebration. He also won the BBC Radio Cymru Showbusnesan Award for Best Actor. (28 March 2001).