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Biography
Ioan Gruffudd (pronounced /ˈjoɑn ˈgrɪfɪθ/) (born October 6, 1973 in Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales) is a Welsh-speaking actor. His parents, Peter and Gillian Gruffudd, were teachers. He has two siblings – a brother, Alun, who is two years younger, and a sister, Siwan, who is seven years younger than he is.
Gruffudd started his acting career at the age of 14 in the Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley). At the age of 18, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). He won his first major English language role a few years later in the 1996 TV remake of Poldark.
After playing Oscar Wilde's gay lover in Wilde in 1997, he got his first international role as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the blockbuster film Titanic. He later got his best-known role as Horatio Hornblower in the ITV production of the C.S. Forester novels. Next, he played Pip in the BBC production of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. He has also starred in 102 Dalmatians, ITV's adaptation of The Forsyte Saga, Black Hawk Down, King Arthur and most recently Fantastic Four.
Was invited and accepted into Gorsedd y Beirdd Ynys Prydain (the [Welsh] Bardic Order of Great Britain) at the highest rank in the National Eisteddfod at Meifod in 2003, with the bardic name Ioan.
Currently living with his English fiancée, Alice Evans, in Los Angeles, California. They met during the production of 102 Dalmations.
Selected filmography
2006 Fantastic Four 2 Reed Richards
2006 Amazing Grace William Wilberforce
2006 The TV Set Richard McAllister
2005 Fantastic Four Reed Richards
2004 King Arthur Lancelot
2004 Century City (TV series) Lukas Gold
2003 This Girl's Life Daniel
2003 Hornblower: Duty (TV series) Commander Horatio Hornblower
2003 Hornblower: Loyalty (TV series) Commander Horatio Hornblower
2002 The Forsyte Saga (TV) Phillip Bosinney
2002 The Gathering Dan Blakeley
2002 Shooters Freddy Guns
2001 Black Hawk Down Lt. John Beales
2001 Hornblower: Retribution (TV series) 3rd Lt. Horatio Hornblower
2001 Hornblower: Mutiny (TV series) 3rd Lt. Horatio Hornblower
2001 Happy Now Sgt Max Bracchi
2001 Very Annie Mary Hob
2001 Another Life Freddy Bywaters
2000 102 Dalmatians Kevin Shepherd
2000 The Miracle Maker (TV) Jesus (voice)
1999 Solomon & Gaenor Solomon Levinsky
1999 Great Expectations (TV) Pip
1999 Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters (TV series) Lt. Horatio Hornblower
1999 Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil (TV series) Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower
1999 Warriors (TV) Lt. John Feeley
1998 Hornblower: The Examination For Lieutenant (TV series) Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower
1998 Hornblower: The Even Chance (TV series) Midshipman Horatio Hornblower
1997 Titanic 5th Officer Harold Lowe
1997 Wilde John Gray
1996 Poldark (TV) Jeremy Poldark
1974 Pobol y Cwm (TV series) Gareth Wyn Harries (1987–1994)
1986 Television film "Austin" - Dafydd
