Rhys Ifans
Rhys Ifans
Rhys Ifans is a Welsh actor and musician. He is known for his portrayal of characters such as Spike in Notting Hill, Jed Parry in Enduring Love and Eyeball Paul in Kevin & Perry Go Large. He is also known as a member of the rock groups Super Furry Animals and The Peth. Ifans also appeared as Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, and as Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man. He...
NationalityWelsh
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth22 July 1967
CityHaverfordwest, England
Villains are fun. I think the important thing in playing them is that they don't see themselves as villains. It lets you be a little more expansive.
I've worked with Hollywood stars, but the reason most of the Hollywood stars I've worked with are Hollywood stars is that they're excellent actors, so I've been very lucky.
The strange thing is, if I was speaking to drama students about the thing that you should do if you're lucky enough to know or to meet the character that you're playing, I'd say, 'It's obvious: you quiz them diligently about their experience.'
Each generation needs a 'Spider-Man' to mirror their angst.
Every time the Tories get a bit of power, they rip off all the things I love... The mining industry. Milk.
People say: 'Oh, it's only acting,' but it's not ever just acting. At least not with me.
Very often, actors have to face being rejected time and again, and we must remember that the red carpet lasts just a minute.
Well, I need to be frightened on a regular basis.
I think Liverpool generates generosity which rubs off - it's a good place to work and to party.
I don't sit around with other actors and talk about the pain and the magic of acting.
I go to work, and I work very hard. I'm loyal, generous, true, kind, fair - all those boxes are ticked. I'm going to Heaven.
I don't have a problem with green screen at all. I think children invented CGI. We invent worlds. A stick can become a sword. Or a bowl of stones can become a bowl of tomatoes. That's what children do, and that's what CGI enables us to do.
On a conventional film, you do one take, and if it's good, they say, 'Let's do another one for insurance.'
More than any other super-hero, 'Spider-Man' presents us with something very local in its ethics. It's not messianic. It's far more tangible.