He trained at the Welsh College of Music and Drama and graduated in 1996, aged 24. Days before he graduated, Elis was asked to audition for London casting agents and was subsequently cast in the British Broadcasting Corporation soap opera EastEnders as the serial"s first Welsh character, Huw Edwards.
He was brought up in the Amman Valley. Elis was initially only scripted to appear in three episodes, but the producers liked the portrayal and his contract was extended. Elis remained in the soap for three years, leaving in 1999 as he feared typecasting.
He went on to appear in S4C’s critically acclaimed drama Ar Y Tracs, Pobol Y Cwm, numerous theatre productions as well as roles in Independent Television Wales soap Nuts and Bolts, The Bill, Casualty and Doctors.
He has also appeared in a variety of adverts for products and brands such as Wicked, Bisto, McLeans, Sky, Peugeot, Renault, a Dutch milk company in the Netherlands and notably in the WKD adverts. Elis is married to Pobol Y Cwm actress Tonya Smith, who plays Yvonne in the Welsh soap opera.
