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 and 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 17, was offered a place at The Royal Academy of Music's one-year intensive postgraduate course as a non-graduate, studying acting and singing.