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Ioan battles for Wales
 Ioan Gruffudd is back on BBC One with Balkan's drama Warriors |
Bands like Manic Street Preachers and Catatonia may have sparked an interest in all things Welsh, but along with Catherine Zeta Jones, actor Ioan Gruffudd is spearheading a new offensive for "Cool Cymru".
The 26-year-old Hornblower star thinks "it's about time" people throughout the UK paid more attention to Wales.
"I'm just proud that through my acting I get a chance to educate people a bit about Wales. People are now more aware of the culture, the heritage and especially the language," says the Cardiff-born heart-throb.
 Hornblower: Ioan fears being pigeonholed in period dramas |
What with another series of the maritime yarn Hornblower in the works and the lead in the upcoming Disney sequel 102 Dalmatians, he is booked solid until next summer.
"It's a lovely feeling to know what I'm doing for the next year, but it's hard to fit anything else in."
The star recently bought a house in north London, which he shares with fellow Welsh actor Matthew Rhys.
Sleeping problems
"I'm still sleeping on the floor... I haven't had time to go shopping for furniture. I can still see us in five years time sitting on these blow-up armchairs."
He does admit to finding some spare time to spend money on "clothes, drink and rugby tickets".
 Warrior: Ioan found playing a soldier extremely harrowing |
"With acting you can't afford to get injured, but I do miss it terribly."
His decision to chose the stage over the scrum seems to have paid off. Gruffudd has starred in a string of acclaimed costume dramas, including the BBC adaptation of Great Expectations.
The star's latest project is the BBC One drama Warriors - about British peacekeeping troops in the Balkans.
"I was aware that I'd only done period stuff. I've always wanted to do something contemporary.
"I turned down a film to do Warriors. I've had many offers but I wanted to do this as an actor and as a person."
The harzards of peacekeeping
Filmed while the conflict in Kosovo was raging, Gruffudd is keen to point out that Warriors does not pass judgement on the United Nations peacekeepers.
"We're just showing the powerlessness of these boys and the frustration of being in that situation."
As well as the emotional stresses of taking on such a topic, Gruffudd also found filming quite arduous.
"They may look glamorous, but these Warriors (the armoured vehicles of the drama's title) are big chunks of metal. Knock against them and you've got a bruise."
 Gruffudd is not envious of friend Leonardo DiCaprio |
Although the show's military advisors eventually warmed to the cast, Gruffudd was weary of being teased because he was a mere actor.
"If you bit, that would be the death of you. They'd pick on you the whole time. You had to give it back or take it on the chin."
Warriors is not the first step in Gruffudd's bid to shake off his "boyish, boy next door image".
He was last seen in the UK in an episode of the racy Channel 4 series Love in the 21st Century entitled "Masturbation".
"My mum couldn't watch it and turned it off after the first minute. My gran couldn't watch it either. My friends gave it a thumbs up, down the pub."
Although he admits to missing Cardiff "terribly", Gruffudd says he would go to Hollywood.
"I'd love to work there. I don't think I'd ever want to live there."
He was recently initiated into the LA highlife by his Titanic co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio. The actor took Gruffudd to a top local nightspot.
 Many have Great Expectations for heart-throb Ioan |
However, the Welshman is not envious of DiCaprio's fame. "I'd like to be in a position to do films like that, but everything that goes with it must be a nightmare for him.
"I'm sure he's struggling hard to keep a grasp on reality. I can't imagine having people camping outside my house."
Gruffudd's current success has set the rumour mills buzzing - with some suggesting he has been picked to take over from Pierce Brosnan as 007.
"There are bookies in Wales taking bets on me being the next James Bond.
"The casting director of Bond has had umpteen calls and she's just saying: 'He's very talented, but about 20 years too young!'
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