Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers arrives for the premiere of the film "The Soloist" in Los Angeles, California in this April 20, 2009 file photograph.[Photo/Agencies]

Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers, star of the "Tudors" television series, was taken to hospital this week after what tabloid newspaper The Sun reported was a suspected suicide attempt.

Meyers, who played King Henry VIII in the TV series and has starred in movies such as Woody Allen's "Match Point," is believed to have taken pills at his home, the Sun said on Thursday.

Representatives for Rhys Meyers were not available to comment. The actor has in the past battled alcohol abuse and been arrested for being drunk in public.

Los Angeles based celebrity website TMZ, citing an unnamed sources close to the actor, said Meyers had been drinking heavily but was not trying to kill himself.

British police, who usually refrain from naming names, said a man of Rhys Myers's age had been taken to hospital from an address in north London on Tuesday evening.

"Officers were called to an address in NW8 at 1945 on June 28 following reports that a 33-year-old man was refusing treatment," a police spokesman said. "He was taken to a central London hospital for treatment."

The Sun and other media reported that paramedics answering an emergency call found Meyers slumped on the floor and had to call police after he refused treatment at the scene for more than 30 minutes.

The actor was finally taken to a hospital near his London home and was discharged in the early hours on Wednesday. Asked later how he was, Meyers was quoted as telling The Sun: "No comment."