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20th November 1988 was a happy day for the Wakefield family in Cairns, Queenslad in Australia. Elizabeth and Chris Wakefield had got their second child and the toddler Luke had got a new baby brother.

Already from a very early age, Rhys took a interest in acting and the theatre. It all started with his childhood dream of becoming a superhero, but as he grew older, this dream developed into a passion of acting.

He started taking acting classes in fourth grade, when he first attended McDonalds Performing Arts College. His first acting job was as a part of the chorous in an opera with Opera Australia. Prior to this he was an extra in the 2000 tap-dancing movie Bootmen.

The school had it`s own theatre, which Rhys became very passionate about. This interest still remains in him, and he goes to watch plays when he has the time. In 2002, he scored his very first TV role. He had a guest appearance in two episodes of the kids show Don`t Blame Me.

Still attending the McDonalds College, Rhys was offered an audition for a role in the popular drama series Home and Away. After waiting for a reply for a long time, he finally got the part of Lucas Holden, the new hot guy in town. On the set, Rhys and co-star Indiana Evans soon became very close, and the rumours started buzzing about them being a couple just like their on-screen alter egos. At the 2006 TV Week Logie Awards in May 2006, they finally annonced their love for the public. But teen love is tough, and the couple split after being together for about 11 months.

Things got pretty intense when Rhys had to juggle his acting with his HSC exams, but the Home and Away producers where understanding and gave him time off to complete his schooling. Whilst still on the show, Rhys did an audition for the australian movie The Black Balloon. He scored the lead role as Tommy Mollison, the younger brother of highly autistic Charlie.

Filming started in early 2007, famous actor Toni Collette and supermodel Gemma Ward was flughn in from the states to star in Elissa Downs debute feature. The movie has got rave reviews, and has recived two prizes. The Black Balloon was released to australian theatres 6th March 2008, after it had it`s world premiere at Berlin film festival february the same year.

In september 2007, media reported that Rhys was soon to be leaving Home and Away. He recorded his last episodes as Lucas Holden in october the same year. His exit-scene was of the more silent part, with Lucas going to the city to attend the university there. This episode aired in Australia on 14th February.

After finishing up on Home and Away, Rhys didn`t waste much time. He wanted to move on to bigger and better things in his career. After a bit of auditioning, he got a major part in the movie Broken Hill, produced by the team behind the successfull Hollywood movie Napoleon Dynamite. The film was filmed in the outback of Southern Australia over a period of about two months. The movie is slated to be released in 2009.

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