Evening Telegraph; 11/6/2004; DRAMA BACKGROUND: Rupert Penry-Jones in Spooks
Evening Telegraph
11-06-2004
Name: Rupert Penry-Jones.
Image: Posh totty.
Best known for: Being rumoured to have dated Kylie.
Early life: Born September 22, 1970, in London. He's the son of To the Manor Born star Angela Thorne and her theatre actor husband Peter Penry- Jones.
His younger brother, Laurence, is also a thespian.
He was educated at Dulwich College, in south-east London, where he first trod the boards at the age of 13.
After a brief spell as a model, he went to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, but dropped out after two years.
Career: He made his movie debut in 1994's Black Beauty. A role in Absolutely Fabulous came a year later.
He then gained bigger parts in Cold Comfort Farm, Cold Lazarus, and a TV adaptation of Jane Eyre.
A part in acclaimed Stephen Poliakoff drama The Tribe made people sit up and take notice in 1998, the year before he won the prestigious Ian Charleson Award for his theatre performance in the RSC's Don Carlos.
Projects since include Hilary and Jackie, Cambridge Spies, Charlotte Gray and Spooks. He will next be seen in BBC drama Casanova.
Love life: He's been linked to Kylie Minogue, but is now happily settled with actress Dervla Kirwan. Their daughter, Florence, was born in April.
Don't mention: Modelling. "I wanted to make some money and did it for a year but couldn't stand it any longer," he says.
Quote: "This job is only 25 per cent talent, the rest is luck and the ability to flirt at auditions."
Catch him on Monday in Spooks on BBC1.
©2004 Independent Newspapers (UK) Limited.