Matthew Rhys calls himself a 'twat' when reminded of a past interview where he called middle age 'frightening'. Now 51, the Welsh actor is starring in the comedy horror 'Widow's Bay', a project he describes as a 'big-swing' out of his comfort zone. The show, created by Katie Dippold and directed by Hiro Murai, follows Tom Loftis, the mayor of a New England island town plagued by ghostly rumors.
From Outsider to Leading Man
Rhys, who has lived in the US for 20 years, relates to his character's outsider status. 'I was an outsider even in school,' he says, recalling being the only boy in drama club. He notes that British banter is something he misses, saying, 'The level of sledging you get is Olympic standard.'
A Career of Complex Roles
Rhys won an Emmy for 'The Americans' and has starred in 'Perry Mason', 'The Beast in Me', and 'Girls'. In the latter, he played a toxic novelist who exposes himself. When asked if he kept the prosthetic, he jokes, 'I hope it got disinfected!'
He also fluffed a James Bond audition by joking about playing the spy with an eyepatch. Despite a film career including 'The Post' and 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood', Rhys prefers TV. 'I like the slow burn of episodic television,' he says.
'Widow's Bay' and Comedy
The show marks a rare comedic role for Rhys, who channels Basil Fawlty-like mania. He calls the project 'death or glory' but loved every second. The series premieres on Apple TV on April 29.
