Cast Of 'Hornblower' from 1998 to 2003

Ioan Gruffudd | Biography

Graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Original : December 01, 2021

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Ioan Gruffudd is a Welsh actor best known for his role as Reed Richards in the Marvel superhero films Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).

Who is Ioan Gruffudd?

Ioan Gruffudd was born to educators Gillian (née James) and Peter in Llwydcoed, Aberdare, Wales, on 6 October 1973 in Aberdare. Gruffudd is 48 years old as of 2021. His family moved to Cardiff, Wales, during his childhood years. He has a two years younger brother named Alun and a seven years younger sister named Siwan. 

Gruffudd rose to prominence after starring as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the 1997 classic movie Titanic and later as Horatio Hornblower in the Hornblower (a series of television movies) from 1998 to 2003. 

Movies & TV Shows

Gruffudd made his acting debut at age 13 in the 1986 Welsh television film Austin. From 1987 to 1994, he played in the Welsh language soap opera Pobol y Cwm (People of the Valley).

Upon graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1995, Gruffudd subsequently earned the role of Jeremy Poldark in the 1996 historical drama television movie Poldark, adapted from Winston Graham's novel titled 'The Stranger from the Sea.' The following year, he played Oscar Wilde's lover John Gray in the biographical romantic drama film Wilde. However, he initially rose to fame after appearing as the Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in James Cameron's 1997 romantic drama film Titanic.

Gruffudd then landed the title role of Horatio Hornblower in the series of British historical fiction war television movies, Hornblower. It was based on C. S. Forester's novels series about Horatio Hornblower, a fictional Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic Wars. The series comprised eight television movies that ran between 1998 and 2003.

In 2005, he starred as Reed Richards in the Marvel superhero film Fantastic Four, directed by Tim Story. He reprised the role in the sequel Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). His other notable film credits included King Arthur (2004) and Sanctum (2011).

His other television movie credits include Great Expectations (1999), Warriors (1999), Man and Boy (2002), The Meant to Be's (2008), and Under Milk Wood (2014). 

Gruffudd has also appeared in over a dozen television shows. He had guest-starring roles in television shows like A Mind to Kill in 1997, Love in the 21st Century in 1999, Monday Mornings in 2013. He also had recurring roles in several television shows, including The Forsyte Saga (2002), Century City (2004), Ringer (2011-2012), Forever (2014-2015), UnReal (2016), Liar (2017-2020), and Harrow (2018-2021).

Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Gruffudd has a net worth of $5 million as of 2021. He has amassed a multi-million dollar net fortune primarily because of his decades-long acting career.

Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evans

On 14 September 2007, Gruffudd married his wife, actress Alice Evans, whom he met on the sets of their 2000 film 102 Dalmatians. They have two daughters, namely Ella Betsi Janet Gruffudd and Elsie Marigold Gruffudd. Their eldest daughter, Ella Betsi Janet, was born on 6 September 2009, and their youngest, Elsie Marigold, was born on 13 September 2013.

On 25 January 2021, Evans wrote on a since-deleted Twitter post that Gruffudd left his family after 13 years of marriage. "Sad news. My beloved husband/soulmate of 20 years, Ioan Gruffudd, has announced he is to leave his family, starting next week. Me and our young daughters girls are very confused and sad. We haven't been given a reason except that he 'no longer loves me.' I'm so sorry," Evans wrote in a now-deleted tweet. 

According to The Sun, he filed for divorce in March of the same year. Seven months later, he went public with his new girlfriend named Bianca Wallace, who is nearly 20 years younger than him, in October 2021.