He was an accomplished oboist in his teens, achieving a Grade 8 level in the ABRSM music examinations and playing in the South Glamorgan Youth Orchestra for several years, but gave it up once acting took up most of his time. He won prizes for his high baritone singing while at school, including one at the National Eisteddfod. He has said, "As a Welshman, I grew up in a culture of singing and performing with music, and I think it was through this performing that I got my confidence as an actor." Gruffudd's parents are committed Christians, and in his early 20s he was a member of the London Church of Christ, but his mother later came to London to "sort [his] head out". In June 2007, he said that he "wouldn't describe myself as a deeply religious man". Gruffudd started his acting career at the age of 13 in a Welsh television film, "Austin" (1986), and later moved on to the Welsh language soap opera "Pobol y Cwm" ("People of the Valley") from 1987 to 1994. He also played football with the "Pobol y Cwm" football team "Cwmderi FC" alongside co-stars Hywel Emrys, Gwyn Elfyn and Ieuan Rhys. During this time, he was also active on stage, in school performances, and in the 1991 Urdd Eisteddfod production of "Cwlwm". In 1992, aged 18, he began attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. However, he was only given small parts in the Academy's productions, and feeling isolated and directionless, almost dropped out several times. However, in 1995 in his final year, he was cast in Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" as George (Jörgen) Tesman, the husband of Hedda, the lead character. This performance led to his being offered the lead role in the 1996 TV remake of "Poldark". After playing Oscar Wilde's lover John Gray in 1997's "Wilde" he took his first role as Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in the blockbuster film "Titanic". He later landed the role of Horatio Hornblower in "Hornblower", the Meridian production of the C. S. Forester novels (1998–2003), shown on ITV1 and A&E. He has said: "It was quite something for an unknown actor to get the lead.