Ivo Tonchev was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, to a family with a rich cultural heritage. His parents, Gena and Velko Tonchevs, instilled in him a deep appreciation for the arts from a young age. While still in school, Tonchev's passion for music and singing was discovered by the "Gusla" child chorus, which became his first platform to showcase his talents.
Tonchev's early fascination with the stage led him to land his first theatrical role at the tender age of ten in the beloved musical "Oliver Twist". This experience sparked a fire within him, and he continued his education in the prestigious first theatrical class in middle school for the 4xS Theater, which was highly regarded among his peers at the time.
As a teenager, Tonchev made his film debut in the movie "Diary of a Madman" at the age of 15, after being discovered by renowned actor and director Marius Kurkinsky on the streets. This chance encounter opened doors for him, and he was subsequently accepted into the prestigious Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, where he spent four years honing his craft.
Immediately after graduation, Tonchev landed a leading role in the musical play "Rhythm", produced and directed by the accomplished actor and director Andrey Batashov. The play received widespread critical acclaim and was performed over 400 times, cementing Tonchev's status as a rising star in the Bulgarian theatre scene.
As his international profile grew, Tonchev began to take on background roles in films produced by Millennium Films, an American movie studio that had established itself in Nu Boyana Film Studios in Bulgaria, the largest movie studio in Southeastern Europe.
