Ian was born in Glendale, California, but moved to Wales at the age of six. This gives him the advantage of having Dual Nationality. His first feature film appearance was in Black Hawk Down (2001), directed by Ridley Scott, Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer where Ian plays the role of 'Specialist John Waddell'. Ian trained at the National Youth Music Theatre and at the young age of just seventeen Ian was offered a place at The Royal Academy of Music's one year intensive Postgraduate course as a NON graduate studying Acting and Singing.