Henry VIII to Horror for Jonny

By RICHARD KAY

JONATHAN Rhys-Meyers is hanging up his Tudors stockings and frilly shirts and throwing himself into a horror film for his next project.

The Cork hunk, who turned heads with his performance as a virile young Henry VIII in the television drama, has signed up to star opposite four-time Oscar-nominee Julianne Moore in the supernatural thriller Shelter.

The film, based on a script by Michael Cooney who wrote Identity, will be directed by the Swedish duo Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein, who previously made Storm. Filming will begin in Pittsburgh late next month.

Rhys-Meyers first caught the eye with his sterling performances in Woody Allens Match Point, Mission: Impossible 3, while most recently he starred in August Rush.

He was back in Dublin recently for the Irish Film and Television Awards at the Gaiety Theatre where he picked up an award for Best Male TV Actor, which received a record seven awards.

The 30-year-old said he was planning to put the gong in his new house in London as most of his awards are back in his late mother Geri Meyers OKeeffes home in Cork.

Two days before her death last year Rhys-Meyers was arrested at Dublin Airport but public order charges against him were later dropped.

His problems with alcohol have been widely reported and he was photographed in London downing a can of cider on the street just hours after she died.

He has also been in rehab a number of times and has spoken at length about his problems with drink.

Rhys-Meyers was accompanied by his on-off girlfriend Reena Hammer at the IFTAs.

They first met in 2004 but the relationship has not been without its problems.

In 2005, the couple were arrested on suspicion of assaulting each other and they have separated numerous times.

When they were briefly reunited last year they sent gossip columnists into overdrive and shocked onlookers in a New York club with a passionate display.

However, last year Reena spoke about how she would love to marry the troubled star.

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