Ioan Gruffudd's cult rescue

Femal First/March 25, 2007

Ioan Gruffudd had to be rescued from a cult by his mother.

The 'Fantastic Four' star moved to London to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) when he was 18 and became involved with The London Church of Christ - a cult which demanded ten per cent of his earnings and told him to give up acting.

After learning of his dilemma, Ioan's mother Gillian travelled to the UK capital from Wales to save her son.

Ioan said in a recent interview: "Religion was a big part of my upbringing. I was 21 at the time of the church thing. I was lonely and vulnerable, also more than a little impressionable.

"Someone approached me in the street and asked if I'd like to go to church that Sunday. I went along and it was all very devout and passionate. There were no weird ceremonies.

"Then, after going a few times, it all started getting a little strange. They started to question my beliefs, telling me that I wasn't a proper Christian. They suggested that I give them some of my earnings and told me I couldn't share a flat with men because that was debauched. I wasn't allowed to hold hands with women. I wasn't even allowed to be an actor. They wanted me to give that up.

"That's when I freaked out. I got so confused that my mother had to come to London to rescue me."