Matt Ryan (real name Matthew Darren Evans) is an English actor and producer. He became widely known after playing the main role in the American mystical series of the NBC channel "Constantine". The series is based on the plot of the popular graphic novels "John Constantine: The Messenger of Hell" from the DC Comics universe.
There are not many roles in the actor’s creative biography. He appeared on the screen in three dozen films and series. Including the artist took part in dubbing the main character of animated films about the adventures of detective John Constantine: "Constantine: City of Demons", "Dark Justice League".
Facts from the biography
The future actor was born in the coastal town of Wells Swansea in the spring of 1981. His father once started working in the mail as a regular postman, and later became the music producer of Warner Bros., Warner / Chappell Music in Scandinavia. Mom was a professional dancer and choreographer. She opened her own studio called the Maria Evans Dance Academy.
His maternal great-grandfather Viktor Dubensky was a Jewish emigrant from Odessa. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he left Russia and settled in London, taking the surname Dubens. He later married a woman of English descent.
Matt has an older brother. Together with him, in his childhood, he constantly watched militants with the participation of A. Schwarzenegger and S. Stallone. Parents were very unhappy with this passion for their sons, but the children still found time to watch their favorite films when their father and mother were not at home.
In the town where Matt spent his childhood, most residents were not very keen on theater and cinema. But the boy was brought up in a creative family. Therefore, at some point, he decided that he wanted to perform on stage.
Ryan learned to dance by visiting his mother’s studio. When he was ten years old, he was selected to participate in the musical Les Miserables and played the main character of Gavrosh at the West End Theater in London.
Then Matt switched to completely different activities. He became interested in motorcycles and fast driving, for some time he even wanted to become a mechanic.
Once the father noticed that his son had a very good ear and that he should try to learn how to play some musical instrument. Then he began to study music and mastered the guitar. In high school, his father invited him to start studying as a sound engineer and promised to help with work.
Matt received his primary education at Penyrheol, then went to college to become a sound engineer. The course included many subjects, among which were: acting, dancing and vocals.
In his student days, Matt had a best friend, Joseph Morgan. It was he who persuaded the young man to audition in the drama studio Bristol Old Vic. Matt was selected and enrolled in an acting course.
After graduating, Ryan was admitted to the Royal Shakespeare Company and began performing on the stage. Within a couple of months, the young actor played the main roles in classical plays. For three years, he played in many performances and went on stage with such famous actors as R. Goldie and G. Doren.
Ryan dreams of someday playing the role of Hamlet. He played in the play of Shakespeare Horatio, and the performer of the role of Hamlet was Jude Law. Matt was delighted with the actor’s play and gained enormous stage experience, constantly watching the work of this master of reincarnation. Together with Jude Law, Ryan also played in another play, Henry V, where he played the role of Fluellan.
Film career
Matt first appeared on the screen in 2001. He performed several roles in short films, almost unknown to the audience.
In 2004, he played in the television series "My, All Mine" in the first season in one of the episodes. Then he got a small role in the crime thriller “Layer Cake”, where he appeared on the set with famous actors D. Craig and S. Miller.
Then, for several years, Ryan starred in television projects. On his account, roles in popular TV series: Think Like a Criminal, Tudors, Torchwood, Police Holby, Accident.
He also appeared in several films: By Mutual Accord, Bloody Jungle, Miss Pettigrew, Mad Decembries, and Velcro.
John Constantine
One of the most famous works of Ryan was the role of detective John Constantine in the television project "Constantine".
Interestingly, in order to get the role, he had to cut the long dark hair that he needed to perform on the theater stage and repaint.
Arriving at the final test, the actor knew almost nothing about his character. And then he remembered a friend - a fan of comics about the adventures of Constantine. He went to him and for several hours listened to a friend’s story about how the main character should look and what needs to be done to play this role.
A friend helped him with the haircut by making the right haircut and dyeing Matt's hair in the right color. Arriving at the studio, Ryan was completely ready for preliminary filming. After the trial, he got a major role in the project.
About his hero, Matt said that Konstantin is a very attractive character with a sense of humor, cunning, wit and perfect mastery of magic.
In one of his interviews, the actor said that he was very happy when he was approved for the role of John Constantine. To prepare for the shooting, he needed to read most of the comics about Konstantin in order to have an idea about his character. This is what the actor did all his free time. In addition, good physical fitness was needed, and he spent many hours in the gym.
The first season of the project was well received by the audience, but the NBC channel, for unknown reasons, decided not to shoot the second season of the series. Ryan decided not to part with his hero. He appeared in the image of Konstantin in the series "Arrow" and "Legends of Tomorrow", and also voiced the character in animated films: "The Dark Justice League" and "Konstantin: City of Demons."
