Jonathan Rhys Meyers in suicide attempt: The Tudors star is rushed to hospital after a bid to take his own life

By Ben Todd


Rising star: Jonathan Rhys Meyers at the Irish Film and Television Awards in Dublin in February 2010


Troubled actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers was rushed to hospital by ambulance after a suspected suicide attempt.

Meyers - who played Henry VIII in raunchy BBC series The Tudors - is believed to have taken pills at his £3million home in Maida Vale, west London on Tuesday evening.

The handsome actor - who has been battling a long-standing drink problem - was found slumped on the floor by paramedics. They were forced to call police after he initially refused treatment at the scene.

The Irish actor was then taken to hospital.


A source said: ‘It was the opinion of those present that he tried to take his life.’
Meyers, 33, was then discharged in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

A female neighbour of the star said: ‘I saw the ambulance arriving and was worried to death.

‘Jonathan is a lovely guy. You see him all the time in the street. He says hello and is very pleasant. I hope he is fine.’

Meyers is regarded as one of the rising stars of the acting world.

However, the actor - who owns homes in Los Angeles and Monaco as well as London and his native Dublin - has long battled a drink problem which worsened following the death of his beloved mother in 2007.

Critically-acclaimed: Rhys Meyers as King Henry VIII in The Tudors


Last month, Rhys Meyers checked into a five-star rehabilitation centre in South Africa. It was his fifth stint in rehab.

The actor has been dating heiress Reena Hammer - whose father owns the Urban Retreat spa in Harrods department store - for seven years.

However, there have been rumours their relationship has recently been under threat.

Meyers has starred in films including Alexander, Velvet Goldmine and Bend It Like Beckham. He won a Golden Globe for his role as Elvis in a US TV series.

He is also a pin-up, and has worked as a model for Hugo Boss and Versace.

Troubled: Rhys Meyers pictured drinking in a London street at 10am four years ago


In the past, he has spoken of his alcohol problem, admitting: ‘When I do drink I'm like Bambi. I'm all over the place like a 16-year-old kid.’

Scotland Yard today confirmed: ‘Officers were called by London Ambulance Service to a residential address following reports of man refusing treatment.

'Police and London Ambulance Service were in attendance and a 33-year old man was taken to a central London hospital for treatment.’

Rhys Meyers has also been arrested twice at airports in drink-related incidents in the past.

He was arrested at Dublin Airport and arrested for being drunk and in breach of the peace in November 2007. The charges were subsequently dropped.

He was also detained by police in June 2009 at the Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris after allegedly assaulting an bar staff employee while drunk.

Last night, a spokesman for Rhys Meyers was unavailable for comment.


source:dailymail