Ioan Gruffudd (, ; ; born
6 October 1973) is a
Welsh actor.
Educated at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he came to international attention as Fifth Officer
Harold Lowe in the film
Titanic (1997), and as Lt. John Beales in
Black Hawk Down (2001). However, he is probably best known for playing the role of
Horatio Hornblower in
Hornblower, the British made-for-TV films (1998–2003) based on
C.S. Forester's novels.
Gruffudd's recent notable film roles include
Lancelot in
King Arthur (2004),
Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) in
Fantastic Four (2005) and the sequel
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and British
slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce in
Amazing Grace (2006). He played
Tony Blair in
W. (2008).
