While this dashing Irish actor has had brushes with fame, he has yet to become a star. Townsend landed a variety of film roles in Europe in the '90s but he lost a big break in 2001 when he was cast — then replaced — as the original lead in
The Lord of the Rings. (He consoled himself by embarking on a relationship with his
Trapped costar Charlize Theron.) His big Hollywood debut as a seductive vampire in
Queen of the Damned made him a Goth heartthrob, but his career certainly wasn't taking off like his girlfriend's. In 2005 he turned to the small-screen as the lead in the remake of the '70s cult series
Night Stalker, but it was quickly canceled.
Stuart Townsend Fast Facts:- Paid the rent as a boxer while attending the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin.
- Discussing the aforementioned school with fellow actor Orlando Bloom, he said, "It was one of those places where you didn't really learn anything, but it was great fun."
- Started a theater company with friends called Ether for Lunch.
- Was originally cast as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy but was ultimately replaced by Viggo Mortensen.
- Stuart Townsend Relationships:
- Charlize Theron - Significant Other
- Chloe Townsend - Sister
- Dylan Townsend - Brother
- Ella Townsend - Half Sister
- Hugo Townsend - Half Brother
- Lorna Townsend - Mother
- Peter Townsend - Father
