Matthew Rhys, the Cardiff-born actor known for his chilling roles, is now taking on a comedic turn in Apple TV's horror-comedy series Widow's Bay. In a recent interview, he reflected on his career, his almost-abandoned acting dreams, and the prosthetic penis he used in Girls.
A Comedic Departure
Rhys plays Tom Loftis, the mayor of a quaint New England island town called Widow's Bay, where a persistent rumor claims no one born there can ever leave. Tom, a mainlander, is determined to boost tourism and downplays the area's gruesome folklore, denying reports of ghosts and ghouls. The role marks a rare foray into all-out comedy for Rhys, who describes the project as a "big-swing moment" and a departure from his comfort zone.
One standout scene involves Tom having dinner with a New York Times journalist, hoping for a flattering article. When the journalist professes love for the island, Tom loses control, yelping excitedly before clamping his hand over his mouth. "I remember thinking: 'Let's just try it,'" Rhys says. "It was a big-swing moment. The whole thing is a big-swing project for me."
From Outsider to Leading Man
Rhys's career has been marked by playing outsiders, from his Emmy-winning role as a Soviet spy in The Americans to his portrayal of a toxic celebrity novelist in Girls. He sees parallels between his characters and his own life as a Welshman living in the US for 20 years. "The parallels were not lost on me," he says. "I was an outsider even then."
He recalls being teased for his love of drama at a sporty school. "My mates would take the piss a bit. It was banter." That banter, he says, is something he misses about the UK. "The level of sledging you get is Olympic standard."
Almost Quitting Acting
Rhys's career was not always secure. After his role in the West End production of The Graduate at age 25, he faced a long stretch of unemployment. "I thought I'd made it, and then I was like, 'Nope'," he says. His prospects were so dire that he applied to join the army, but a recruiting officer rejected him, convinced he was researching a role. "I remember him looking down my CV and saying: 'I'm very confused …'"
A Career on TV
Now 51, Rhys has become a dominant figure in US television. He spent five years on Brothers and Sisters, won an Emmy for The Americans, and played the title role in the gritty 2020 reboot of Perry Mason. He also starred opposite Claire Danes in the Netflix thriller The Beast in Me. Despite a successful film career—including roles in Steven Spielberg's The Post and A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood—Rhys prefers television. "I don't any more," he says of craving film roles. "TV is the perfect medium for me. I like the slow burn of episodic television."
The Prosthetic Penis
One of Rhys's most memorable roles was in the American Bitch episode of Girls, where his character unzips his fly to reveal a silicone penis. Asked if he got to keep it, Rhys says, "I did ask. I wonder what they did with it. I hope it got disinfected."
Age and Wisdom
Rhys believes that age has brought him more textured roles. "As you get older, you can tap into your emotions far more easily. You've lived a life so there's more to draw from," he says. Looking back at his early films, he admits, "I didn't have much acting experience then, so it was all a bit vanilla. A bit shit." Middle age, he concludes, is not so frightening after all.
Widow's Bay premieres on Apple TV on 29 April.
