Years removed from his pretty-boy days, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is ready to assume the throne.

By Justin Monroe; Photographs by: Matt Doyle; Styling by:  Kelly McCabe

How similar is that royal power to the power of celebrity and wealth today?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: Celebrity and wealth can be taken away. Being royalty can’t. These people were living gods. I mean, you can be celebrated, yes, but you had to earn it.

It’s not given from birth, unless you’re a famous person’s kid, but there is a similar awe of celebrities, no? Once you’re a celebrity, it’s like you’re not human anymore.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: Of course that exists. Listen, I couldn’t possibly imagine Michael Jackson going to the toilet until I was like ten years old. Because he was just, like, from another planet. But it doesn’t take that much to be famous today. If someone goes to a nightclub, or wears a dress, or drives a car, or dates somebody, or puts their life 24 hours a day on television in a reality show, they’re celebrated and people are in awe of them. It’s kind of weird, don’t you agree?

Completely.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: But I don’t mind being in awe of the Beatles because they were great. Being in awe of great men, there’s no shame in that. Or great women.

Are you comfortable being viewed differently because you’re a celebrity?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: I don’t even think about it, I can’t think about it. You end up fucking your own head.

What are you like when walking around set in character as Henry VIII?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: I’m quite predatory.

In what sense?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers:  In every way. You’re living in a world of political intrigue; you’re constantly in a state of red alert. It’s like being at DEFCON 4 or whatever they call it. Constantly.

Will the second season be as lusty as the first?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: Yeah, of course; people didn’t just sleep with each other. There’s a lust for power, and sex is power. People didn’t have TV.

[Laughs.] With all that power play, what’s it like doing the sex scenes?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: When you’re having sex with somebody you’re totally in that person at that time. It’s strange when there are tons of people looking at you, but I don’t get ashamed and I don’t get embarrassed. I go to the gym, so I’m comfortable with my body. This is the job that I do and if I want to be comfortable doing the job that I do, I have to take care of myself.

What’s the most uncomfortable sex scene you’ve shot?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: The rape scene [in I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (2003)]. There’s just something about masculine rape that is very degrading. All rape is degrading. That was quite harrowing. I didn’t expect to feel quite as uncomfortable after that as I did. I thought I’d just ride it out. There was something deeply uncomfortable about that.

I take it the romps with Scarlett were much less scarring.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: There wasn’t anything uncomfortable about the sex scenes in Match Point, except Woody [Allen] is really uncomfortable shooting sex scenes. I think he likes talking about it in his films rather than showing it. Woody said, “You guys do what you do.” Scarlett and I are both grown people and we have been in bed with someone before. They were very lustful, but they didn’t seem lustful while we were shooting them. Home // CELEBRITIES // COVER STORY // Jonathan Rhys Meyers