This 2000s Star, Who Long Struggled with Addiction, Stunned Fans in Recent Years — Photos

This star faced hardships from an early age and was expelled from school during his teenage years. He has since made a name for himself in the entertainment industry – not just for his skills, but also for his striking appearance, particularly in recent years.

In addition to his impressive on-screen work, he has undergone a notable physical transformation in recent years. Here’s a look at how he has changed over time.

1998 at age 21

The actor pictured at a photocall during the 51st Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 1998, in Cannes, France. | Source: Getty Images

The actor photographed with Minnie Driver on the set of “In The Governess,” 1998 | Source: Getty Images

2002 at age 25

The actor at the premiere of “The Importance of Being Earnest,” 2002 | Source: Getty Images

2004 at age 27

The actor during The Times BFI London Film Festival 2004 Vanity Fair screening on November 1, 2004, in London, Great Britain. | Source: Getty Images

The actor pictured at the “Women To Women: Positively Speaking Party” on December 2, 2004 | Source: Getty Images

2005 at age 28

The actor attends the premiere of “Match Point,” 2005 | Source: Getty Images

The actor during “Match Point” press conference on November 19, 2005, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

The actor on the set of “The Tudors,” 2006 | Source: Getty Images

The actor during GQ Men of the Year Awards on September 5, 2006, in London, Great Britain. | Source: Getty Images

2007 at age 30

The actor at Rome Film Festival: Premiere of the film “August Rush” on October 20, 2007, in Rome, Italy. | Source: Getty Images

The actor during an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on April 10, 2007 | Source: Getty Images

2008 at age 31

The actor at the world premiere party for season 2 of “The Tudors” on March 19, 2008 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

2009 at age 32

The actor photographed at the Four Seasons Hotel on April 23, 2009, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images

The celebrity at the John Galliano Men Spring Summer 2009 Fashion Show | Source: Getty Images

2010 at age 33

The actor visits BET’s 106 & Park at BET Studios on February 2, 2010, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

The actor pictured at the Orange British Academy Film Awards on February 21, 2010, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

The actor during a portrait session on May 4, 2010, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images

2013 at age 36

The celebrity attends the book launch of Art Studio America on November 11, 2013, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

2016 at age 39

The actor on set of “Black Butterfly,” 2016 | Source: Getty Images

The actor attends the “Roots” night one screening on May 23, 2016, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

The actor attends the “London Town” screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival on October 11, 2016, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

At this point in his life, actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers decided to settle down by marrying actress, Mara Lane. She is best known for appearing in films such as “American Night” and “Ambush.”

The following year, the news reports revealed that the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Wolf Rhys Meyers, on December 15, 2016. Lane gave birth at home, with a midwife assisting the delivery.

In September 2017, Lane shared in a heartfelt Instagram post that she had experienced a miscarriage. In the post, she also discussed her husband’s response to the heartbreaking news and opened up about his personal struggles during that time.

“With much sadness, we open our hearts to share that J and I lost our second child, who was baking in the oven. Child was very very much wanted (right now especially by J, so he took the news particularly not so well) [sic],” she penned.

She expressed that he had faced significant challenges, including depression from past abuse and a lifelong battle with alcoholism. Despite these hardships, he turned his pain into art and demonstrated remarkable strength. Lane admires her spouse’s ability to achieve success despite all he had been through, though she noted that progress often felt like two steps forward, one step back.

A year later, Meyers opened up about his addiction in an interview. When asked about his biggest disappointment, he replied, “Relapsing. I usually spend eight, nine, 10 months sober, then I’ll spend a day relapsing and I get disappointed. But it never lasts too long. I get back up and try again.”

John Rhys Meyers photographed on July 26, 2018, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

In July 2018, Meyers made headlines after being detained by the police at Los Angeles’s LAX airport for using an e-cigarette on a flight. Witnesses also reported that the actor had a drunken altercation with his wife, Lane.

Mara Lane, Wolf and Jonathan Rhys Meyers pictured arriving at Venice Airport on August 29, 2018, in Venice, Italy. | Source: Getty Images

Jonathan Rhys Meyers photographed at Venice Airport on August 29, 2018, in Venice, Italy. | Source: Getty Images

Expressing regret, he acknowledged that while he could say the right things, it was his actions that made the difference. The celebrity shared that he went home, apologized to his wife, contacted the necessary people, and explained what had happened.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Mara Lane, and Wolf Rhys Meyers attend the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation’s 30th Anniversary – “A Time for Heroes” Family Festival on October 28, 2018, in Culver City, California. | Source: Getty Images

He praised his beloved wife, who publicly apologized for the incident on his behalf, for standing by him amid the challenging times, saying, “Oh, my wife is a superior woman. She’s incredible. Yeah, incredible. I couldn’t be luckier.”

2019 at age 42

2023 at age 46

In recent years, his physical appearance has also drawn attention from online users. In February 2023, Meyers posted a video of himself with his son Wolf during an outing. He captioned it, “Thank you @CenterParcsIE for the stunt training and awesome time. Zip lining over the lake was pretty amazing.”

Fans flooded Meyers’ post with warm comments, expressing their admiration for the sweet moment between him and his child. One follower observed, “Hi Jonathan, you and Wolf are so sweet,” while another commented, “Thks for sharing! @JRM_official! Both so adorable! Have a great time! Sending hugs and love! [sic]”

Others shared similar sentiments, with one user gushing, “You guys are looking good, so lovely…” and another adding, “Awesome!! Miss you!!” Some praised his role as a parent, writing, “What a fantastic father you are!!!” Meanwhile, the venue also chimed in, saying, “We hope you had a fabulous time and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.”

Jonathan Rhys Meyers during the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 4 match on May 21, 2023 in Wexford, Ireland. | Source: Getty Images

2024 at age 47

In addition to enjoying time with his son, Meyers, known for starring alongside Tom Cruise and Maggie Q in “Mission: Impossible III,” continues to stay active in his acting career. The veteran actor’s most recent projects include the action thriller titled “The Clean Up Crew,” and the 2024 film “Operation Blood Hunt.”

Jonathan Rhys Meyers on the set of “The Clean Up Crew” | Source: YouTube/SonyPicturesEntertainment

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and co-star on the set of “The Clean Up Crew” | Source: YouTube/SonyPicturesEntertainment

Jonathan Rhys Meyers on the set of “The Clean Up Crew” | Source: YouTube/SonyPicturesEntertainment

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and co-star on the set of “The Clean Up Crew” | Source: YouTube/ONEMediaCoverage

Jonathan Rhys Meyers on the set of “The Clean Up Crew” | Source: YouTube/ONEMediaCoverage

In recent years, Jonathan Rhys Meyers has shown resilience in both his personal and professional life. Despite facing significant challenges, he continues to evolve, balancing his acting career with fatherhood and personal growth.