Matthew Rhys

Born in Cardiff in 1974, Rhys was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf before being accepted into RADA. While there he had parts in BBC series Back-Up and Welsh director Marc Evans' acclaimed film House Of America.

Rhys won a Welsh BAFTA for Best Actor in Welsh language film Bydd yn Wrol (Be Brave) and following this gained the role of Demetrius in Julie Taymor's Titus (1999), alongside Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange.

He then starred in two films, both starring Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce: The Testimony Of Taliesin Jones and Very Annie Mary.

In 2000 he won many plaudits as the stage version of The Graduate opened at The Gielgud Theatre in the West End, with Kathleen Turner starring opposite.

Rhys starred in epic BBC drama The Lost World, which was filmed in New Zealand. He also appeared in horror film Death Watch, which featured Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell, Hugo Speer and Andy Serkis.

Rhys provided a voice in Welsh animated film Y Mabinogi in 2003 and the following year starred in independent film Fakers, a comic crime tale in which he plays a character who owes money to a crime lord, played by Art Malik.

Rhys starred in Love And Other Disasters in 2006 with Brittany Murphy and a year later featured in romantic comedy Virgin Territory.

In 2006 Rhys took on the role of Kevin Walker, a gay lawyer, in American television drama series Brothers & Sisters, a role that has made him a household name.

Yet in 2008 Rhys returned to his roots as he took on the role of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in John Maybury's The Edge Of Love. The film received positive reviews after making its world première at the opening of the Edinburgh Film Festival.

2008 also saw Rhys awarded with an honorary fellowship from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and he was accepted into the Druidic order of the Gorsedd of the Bards at the National Eisteddfod.

The actor stars in film Patagonia, by Welsh director Marc Evans, alongside Nia Roberts, Matthew Gravelle, Rhys Parry Jones and singer Duffy. The film is due for release in March 2011.