Bio
Jay Ryan is a New Zealand actor best known for his television roles as Jack Scully on Neighbours (2002-2005), as Able Seaman Billy 'Spider' Webb on Sea Patrol (2007-2009), as Kevin on Go Girls (2009-2012) and as Vincent Keller on Beauty and the Beast, since 2012.
In Beauty and The Beast, Ryan plays Vincent Keller, a military doctor who was reportedly killed while serving in Afghanistan. For mysterious reasons that have forced him to live outside of traditional society, Vincent has been in hiding for the past ten years to guard his secret – when he is enraged, he becomes a terrifying beast, unable to control his super-strength and heightened senses.
As a native of New Zealand, Ryan is well known for his role as Jack Scully in that country's long running series, Neighbours.
Ryan's other television credits include a guest starring role in Steven Spielberg's Terra Nova, Television New Zealand's Go Girls, as Kevin and as Frazer King in Ten's exuberant drama Off Spring, set in Melbourne's Fitzroy.
Ryan also portrayed Seaman Billy 'Spider' Webb in three seasons of Nine Network's Sea Patrol, Legend of the Seeker for the Starz Network, Young Hercules, Xena: Warrior Princess with Lucy Lawless, Superfire, Being Eve, Interrogation, The Tribe and You Wish.
On the big screen Ryan has been seen in Belinda Chayko's Lou, co-starring John Hurt and Emily Barclay, as well as the AFTRS feature The Rookie. He has also appeared in the short films Bleeders, Mockingbird and Franswa Sharl directed by Hannah Hilliard.
Ryan is also no stranger to theatre. He has appeared in numerous theatre productions, including Anthony and Cleopatra, John Cleese - His Life, John Cleese - Seven Ways, Legacy, To Skin an Ocelot and A Streetcar Named Desire for the Auckland Theatre Company.
He also starred in The Packer, which began as a one-man show at the Edinburgh Festival and went on to tour Australia and Los Angeles. The Packer was nominated for Best International Contribution to Los Angeles Theater.
Ryan can also be seen co-starring in the BBC/Sundance Channel miniseries Top of The Lake, written and directed by multiple award winner Jane Campion.