entertainment
‘I hope it got disinfected!’ Matthew Rhys on bravery, banter and wearing a prosthetic penis
He is one of the most chilling actors around. Yet Matthew Rhys is now playing a Basil Fawlty type in comedy horror Widow’s Bay. He talks about fluffing his James Bond audition, unzipping in Girls – and why he almost jacked in acting to join the army
TL;DR
- Matthew Rhys, 51, initially questioned his acting career's longevity, even considering joining the army after a difficult period post-"The Graduate."
- He stars in the new horror-comedy "Widow's Bay," a role that allows him to explore all-out comedy, contrasting with his more serious past roles.
- Rhys, a Welshman living in the US for 20 years, relates to playing outsiders, a theme prominent in "The Americans" and his current "Widow's Bay" character.
- He has become a prominent figure in US television with roles in "Brothers and Sisters," "The Americans" (for which he won an Emmy), and "Perry Mason."
- Rhys prefers television's "slow burn" and "luxury of taking your time" over movies, despite having worked on major films like "The Post."
- He believes that aging has allowed him to tap into emotions more easily and draw from a richer well of life experiences for his acting.
- Rhys discusses the British "banter" and "sledging" he misses and how it differs from interactions in the US.
- He recounts a humorous anecdote about asking to keep a prosthetic penis used in the HBO show "Girls."