NORTH Wales movie star Rhys Ifans is set to star alongside Penelope Cruz in his next blockbuster film. The Ruthin-born actor will appear in the dark piece Chromophobia written and directed by Martha Fiennes, sister of actor Ralph Fiennes. He will star alongside Hollywood beauty Cruz and a raft of other big names including Kirsten Scott Thomas, Ian Holm and Ralph Fiennes. The 36-year-old actor plays a policeman who has quits because he finds the profession too painful. His character gets involved with a terminally ill mother. "He becomes a social worker and his first assignment is to generally monitor and take care of Cruz," said Rhys.. "She's the single mother living with her daughter and we discover halfway through the film that she's dying of cancer. "Because of the clumsy bureaucracy of the social services, she hasn't been told." She decides not to go into hospital because she loves her daughter too much and nurses herself through her final days. Rhys is currently starring in the dark romantic comedy Enduring Love starring Samantha Morton and Daniel Craig. The Notting Hill star plays a loner Jed who witnesses a hot air balloon disaster. Jed then becomes obsessed with the other witness played by Craig. Rhys said: "He kind of finds a sort of solace in religion." Rhys shot to stardom after his Notting Hill role as Hugh Grant's Hapless flatmate Spike. He is also set to portray comic icon Peter Cook in a new Channel 4 series Not Only... But Also, dramatising Cook's comic partnership with Dudley Moore. stevebagnall@dailypost.co.uk | 
