RHYS MEYERS STOPPED PICTURE AT AIRPORT
Troubled actor ‘completely out of it’ as he is led away by officer
TROUBLED Jonathan Rhys Meyers is escorted away by a Dublin Airport policeman before he could board a flight yesterday.
The 40-year-old, who has been battling a drink problem, staggered around looking the worse for wear, a witness said.
The onlooker added: “He was completely out of it. Other passengers were concerned to see him in such a way just after 10am.”
TROUBLED Hollywood star Jonathan Rhys Meyers was led away by security as he tried to board a transatlantic flight at Dublin Airport yesterday.
The Cork star, 40, a recovering alcoholic, staggered around near a departure gate looking the worse for wear. He was dishevelled and seemed under the influence, an onlooker said.
The Tudors actor was attempting to board the 11am Air Canada flight to Vancouver from Terminal 1 when he was stopped by an airport policeman.
Pictures of the incident appear to show the dad of one leaning against a wall for support.
An onlooker said: “He was staggering around for a good while. He wasn’t causing any hassle with anyone, he just seemed really intoxicated.
“He looked like someone who didn’t have a clue where he was. He was completely out of it. Other passengers were concerned to see him in such a way just after 10am.”
STRUGGLED
Rhys Meyers was pictured wearing a light grey T-shirt, dark leather jacket, tight black jeans with white socks and black shoes.
Unshaven and wearing glasses, the star struggled to stand at times.
He was spotted wandering around with a packet of 20 Marlboro Red in his hands.
He was later approached by airport security and escorted to a seated area.
Passengers were at first unaware of who he was as the situation was dealt with. Later others recognised him.
The actor was accompanied by a male passenger. Rhys Meyers, who had to be physically supported by his friend at one stage, was directed away from the departures gate by a uniformed airport policeman.
From being banned from a flight at JFK after allegedly turning up drunk, to being arrested at Dublin Airport in 2007 for drunkenness and even being rushed to hospital in 2011 after a suspected suicide attempt with pills, the actor has long fought his booze addiction.
Just two years ago, he was forced to apologise to his girlfriend Maya Lane for his “embarrassing relapse” with alcohol after he was spotted out and about in a dishevelled state. The actor sparked concern after he was seen stumbling out of a shop with a bottle of vodka in his hand. With his flies undone and dressed in a grubby T-shirt, Rhys Meyers, who has had a wellpublicised battle with alcohol in the past, appeared disorientated.
He then wrote on his partner Mara Lane’s Instagram account less than two weeks after the incident and thanked fans for their support and asked them not to think “too badly” of him.
The full post read: “I apologise for having a minor relapse. I stopped drinking immediately and it is no reflection on Damascus Cover [his latest film] as I was not meant to attend Cannes this year and I apologize to fans and colleagues.”
The Dublin-born star, who was raised in Cork, went on to assure people he was “on the mend” and that it was just a “blip” in his recovery.
He added: “I am... sorry for my dishevelled appearance as I was on my way home from a friend’s and had not changed. I made a mistake and feel quite embarrassed but this
was just a blip in my recovery.” In November 2013, Rhys Meyers opened up about his troubles, keen to put them behind him as he promoted his TV show Dracula.
STUPIDITY
He admitted at the time: “When you are on the front of newspapers for stupidity, getting drunk at airports and fighting with cops... it’s not the consequences for yourself but your family get hurt.”
The actor’s girlfriend Mara gave birth to a baby boy named Wolf last December.
The Dublin Airport Authority declined to comment. Rhys Meyers’ manager was unavailable.
news@irishmirror.ie
He looked like he did not have a clue where he was. He was out of it
ONLOOKER DUBLIN AIRPORT YESTERDAY