Rhys Meyers to champion rights of Calcutta's street children

Hollywood star Jonathan Rhys Myers today revealed his plans to champion the rights of children living on the streets of Calcutta.

The Irish actor was this morning unveiled in Dublin as the ambassador for the Hope Foundation, a charity formed in his native Cork.

The news comes after Rhys-Myers was last night honoured at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs) for his role in the period drama, 'The Tudors'.

“I’m deeply honoured to become an ambassador for an organisation like the Hope Foundation,” the 29-year-old said during a ceremony this morning.

“Hope, an initiative started in my native Cork over eight years ago, has provided shelter, medical care and support to some of the world’s poorest and most mistreated children, the street children of Calcutta.

“If I can use my name and celebrity to advance awareness of the great work the Hope Foundation does in some small way then I am delighted to be able to do so.”

The actor plans to visit Calcutta this year to see for himself the appalling conditions the street children are forced to live in.

It is estimated that 200,000 children live on Calcutta’s streets.

Hope, founded in 1999 by local women in Cork, works with its 13 Indian NGO partner groups to take children off the streets and improve their quality of life.

The charity today said it supports over 57 projects including fives homes, a HIV/Aids hospice, a drugs rehabilitation centre and a hospital for street children.

Hope director Maureen Forrest said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jonathan as our ambassador and we look forward to forging a strong relationship with him.”

Rhys-Myers performance in the 'The Tudors' saw him named best actor in a television drama lead role at the IFTAs in an awards ceremony in Dublin’s Gaiety theatre.

'The Tudors', a drama about the life of King Henry VIII, won in a record seven categories.