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Matthew Rhys
Matthew Rhys
Matthew Rhys
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Matthew Rhys Evans (/riːs/ REESS; born 8 November 1974[2][3]) is a Welsh actor. He gained recognition for playing Kevin Walker in the family drama series Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011) and Philip Jennings in the spy drama series The Americans (2013–2018). For his performance in The Americans, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2019. He was also Emmy-nominated for his guest role in Girls (2017) and for playing the title role in the period series Perry Mason (2020–2023).

Key Information

In film, Rhys appeared as Dylan Thomas in The Edge of Love (2008) and as Daniel Ellsberg in The Post (2017) and starred as a cynical journalist in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019). He has also voiced several characters in animated series, including Emperor Belos in The Owl House (2020–2023).

Early life and education

[edit]

Rhys was born in Cardiff, Wales, on 8 November 1974[2] (some sources say 4 November).[3] His first language is Welsh.[4] He grew up in Cardiff and attended Welsh-medium schools, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd (in Whitchurch, Cardiff) and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf (in Llandaff North, Cardiff). In 1993, he was awarded the Patricia Rothermere Scholarship.[5]

At age 17, after playing Elvis Presley in a school musical, he applied to and was accepted at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.[6] During Rhys's time at RADA, he appeared in the BBC police series Backup and in House of America. He returned to Cardiff to act in his own language in the Welsh film Bydd yn Wrol (Be Brave),[7] for which he won Best Actor at the BAFTA Cymru (Welsh BAFTAs).

Career

[edit]
Rhys at the 2007 GLAAD Awards

In January 1998, Rhys went to New Zealand to star in Greenstone, a colonial costume drama for television. He then landed a role in Titus, Julie Taymor's adaptation of Titus Andronicus, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange. Next he played Ray in Peter Hewitt's comedy film Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? After returning to Wales, he did two consecutive films with Jonathan Pryce: The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, a film about a dysfunctional single-parent family in which he played the elder son, and Sara Sugarman's comedy Very Annie Mary, in which he played the role of Nob. Rhys would later reunite with Very Annie Mary star Rachel Griffiths on Brothers & Sisters.[8]

In 2000, Rhys played the lead role in Metropolis, a drama series for Granada TV about the lives of six twenty-somethings living in London.[6] Next he starred in Peaches, the film of the play written and directed by Nick Grosso.[9][10] Rhys starred as Benjamin in the 2000 world premiere of the stage adaptation of The Graduate, alongside Kathleen Turner at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End.[11] Rhys travelled to Ireland to star in the 18th-century swashbuckling adventure The Abduction Club.[12] He played the lead role of Darren Daniels in Tabloid and then returned to New Zealand to shoot the epic drama The Lost World for the BBC. His other film credits include the independent horror film Deathwatch in Prague and Fakers, a comic crime caper.

In 2003, he played Justin Price in the final episode of the long-running television series Columbo.[13] He appeared in the independent feature Love and Other Disasters, in Virgin Territory, and as poet Dylan Thomas in the love quadrangle biographical film The Edge of Love.[14] He moved to Santa Monica after being cast in ABC's show Brothers & Sisters as gay lawyer Kevin Walker. The show had a five-season run, coming to an end in 2011.[11]

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood premiere, Toronto Film Festival, 2019

In January 2012, Rhys appeared in a BBC Two two-part drama adaptation of Charles Dickens's last, unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.[15] The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) aired it in the United States as one feature-length episode on 15 April 2012. In 2012, Rhys reprised Sir Alec Guinness's 1959 double role of John Barratt / Jacques DeGué in a new adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's The Scapegoat.[16] That same year, Rhys was cast as Jimmy in the Roundabout Theatre Company's Off-Broadway revival of John Osborne's play, Look Back in Anger, at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. The production played a limited engagement through 8 April 2012.[17] In 2013, Rhys starred in the television adaptation of the P. D. James novel Death Comes to Pemberley as Jane Austen hero Fitzwilliam Darcy.[18]

He starred opposite Keri Russell in the FX series The Americans, a 1980s Cold War spy drama about Russian KGB sleeper agents (Rhys and Russell, who portray married KGB agents with two children, among other agents and handlers). Rhys and Russell are partners off-screen as well. The show debuted in January 2013.[19] The series aired its sixth and final season in 2018. Rhys received a Primetime Emmy Award for his acting in the sixth season.[20]

From 16 to 28 November 2025, Rhys is scheduled to return to the Welsh stage to play Richard Burton in the one-man play Playing Burton, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Burton's birth and raising funds for the inaugural season of Michael Sheen's new Welsh National Theatre.[21][22][23]

Business ventures

[edit]

Patagonia productions

[edit]

Rhys set up his own production company, Patagonia, in 2011. It has two projects in development. One of them involves an adaptation of a book titled Operation Julie, written by Lyn Ebenezer,[24] about the biggest LSD drugs bust in Wales's history; Rhys bought the film rights in December 2010.[25][26] In 2023, Rhys spoke on a podcast about how he has been working on a potential film about Owain Glyndŵr's life and his rebellion, begun in 1400, against the Kingdom of England.[27]

Pubs

[edit]

With the help of Welsh actor Rhys Ifans, Rhys supported fundraising for the pub Vale of Aeron in Ystrad Aeron, Ceredigion, Wales.[28][29] Rhys also invested in another pub in Pennal, a town in Gwynedd, North Wales, where his father grew up and Rhys would spend summers and Easters visiting. In 2019, the Glan Yr Afon (also Riverside) was put on the market without any buyers, but through a campaign supported by Rhys, there was a shares offering for the public which raised £450,000 to save the pub. The local community completed the purchase in December 2022.[30][31][32]

Charter yacht

[edit]

In New York City, Rhys owns and rents a charter boat named Rarebit. The Wheeler boat was constructed circa 1934; Rhys bought it from eBay after researching the venture in 2017. He rebuilt the boat himself with the advice of shipwrights.[33][34][35]

Personal life

[edit]

Rhys has been in a relationship with his The Americans co-star Keri Russell since 2014.[36][37] They had their first child, a son, in 2016.[38][39] In interviews conducted in 2021, they referred to each other as husband and wife,[40][41] though Rhys stated in an interview in 2025 that they "literally haven't got round to marriage yet".[42]

He is a supporter of Plaid Cymru[43] and has spoken out in favour of Welsh independence.[44][45] Rhys stated in November 2018 that he spoke to his son "only in Welsh", adding that he wants his son to understand the language.[46]

On 15 July 2008, Aberystwyth University honoured Rhys as a fellow.[47] On 8 August 2008, he was honoured at the Welsh National Eisteddfod by being accepted as a member to the druidic order of the Gorsedd of the Bards[48] for his contributions to the Welsh language and Wales. His bardic name in the Gorsedd is Matthew Tâf. In August 2009, Rhys took to the stage with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales as part of the National Eisteddfod.[49]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1996 Bydd yn Wrol N/A
1997 House of America Boyo
1999 Heart Sean McCardle
Titus Demetrius
Whatever Happened to Harold Smith? Ray Smith
2000 Sorted Carl
The Testimony of Taliesin Jones Jonathan
2001 Peaches Frank
Tabloid Darren Daniels
Very Annie Mary Nob
2002 The Abduction Club James Strang
Deathwatch Doc Fairweather
Shooters Eddie
2003 Y Mabinogi Lleu Llaw Gyffes
2004 Fakers Nick Edwards
2006 Love and Other Disasters Peter Simon
2007 Virgin Territory Count Dzerzhinsky
2008 The Edge of Love Dylan Thomas
2010 Luster Joseph Miller
Patagonia Mateo
2012 The Scapegoat John Standing / Johnny Spence
2015 Burnt Montgomery Reece
Come What May Percy
2017 The Post Daniel Ellsberg [50]
2018 Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle John Lockwood [51]
2019 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Lloyd Vogel [52]
The Report New York Times reporter [53]
2021 Seal Team Grimes (voice) [54]
2023 Cocaine Bear Andrew C. Thornton II
2024 IF Ghost (voice) [54]
Watchmen Dan Dreiberg / Nite Owl, additional voices Direct-to-video[55][54]
Saturday Night George Carlin [56]
2025 Hallow Road Frank [57]

Television

[edit]
Key
† Denotes series that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
1997 Backup PC Steve 'Hiccup' Higson 6 episodes
1999 Greenstone Sam Markham Unknown episodes
2000 A History of Britain N/A Unknown episodes
Metropolis Matthew Bishop 5 episodes
2001 The Lost World Edward Malone 2 episodes
2003 Columbo Justin Price Episode: "Columbo Likes the Nightlife"
Partners and Crime N/A Television film
POW Alfie Harris Episode #1.5
2006 Beau Brummell: This Charming Man Lord Byron Television film
2006–2011 Brothers & Sisters Kevin Walker Main role
2010 Mr Hollywood — Producer; S4C-TV documentary[58]
2011 LA Phil Live Hamlet Episode: "Dudamel Conducts Tchiakovsky"
2012 The Mystery of Edwin Drood John Jasper 2 episodes
2013 Death Comes to Pemberley Fitzwilliam Darcy 3 episodes
2013–2018 The Americans Philip Jennings Main role
2014 Under Milk Wood New York Voice Television film
2015 Archer Lloyd Llewellyn (voice) Episode: "Achub y Morfilod"; credited for episode's story
The Bastard Executioner Gruffudd y Blaidd / the Wolf 4 episodes
2016–2020 The Wine Show Himself (co-host) Main role
2017 Girls Chuck Palmer Episode: "American Bitch"
Snowdonia 1890 Narrator Main role
2018 Death and Nightingales Billy 3 episodes
Down the Caravan Dai Television film
2019 BoJack Horseman Justin Kenyon (voice) Episode: "A Quick One, While He's Away"
Carpool Karaoke: The Series Himself (co-host) Season 2, episode 17
Infinity Train Aloysius, Alrick (voice) 2 episodes[54]
2020–2023 Perry Mason Perry Mason Main role; also executive producer[59]
The Owl House Emperor Belos (voice) Recurring role[60][54]
2022 Tuca & Bertie Figgy (voice) 6 episodes
2023 Extrapolations Junior Episode: "2037: A Raven Story"
Gremlins Riley Greene (voice) 10 episodes[61][54]
2024 The Wingfeather Saga Gammon Felda / the Florid Sword (voice) Season 2 recurring role; 3 episodes[62]
2025 Towards Zero Inspector Leach Three-part miniseries
The Beast in Me Nile Jarvis [63]
2026 Invincible Dinosaurus / David Anders (voice) [64]
TBA Silent River † [65]
Widow's Bay † Filming[66]
Presumed Innocent Main role (season 2)[67]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Play Role Playwright Venue Ref.
1997 Cardiff East Tommy Peter Gill Royal National Theatre [68]
Grace Note Nick Samuel Adamson The Old Vic [69]
One More Wasted Year Pierre Christophe Pellet Royal Court Theatre [70]
Stranger's House (Fremdes Haus) Yanne Dea Loher [71]
2000 The Graduate Benjamin Braddock Charles Webb Gielgud Theatre [72]
2002 The Associate Tiny Simon Bent Royal National Theatre [73]
2003 Under Milk Wood Mog Edwards Dylan Thomas New Theatre (Cardiff)
2004 King Lear Edmund William Shakespeare Royal Shakespeare Company [74]
Macbeth Macduff The Young Vic [75]
Romeo and Juliet Romeo Royal Shakespeare Company [76]
2012 Look Back in Anger Jimmy John Osborne Roundabout Theatre Company [77]
2025 Playing Burton Richard Burton Mark Jenkins Welsh National Theatre [22]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Critics' Choice
Television Awards 		2013 Best Actor in a Drama Series The Americans Nominated [78]
2014 Best Actor in a Drama Series The Americans Nominated [79]
2015 Best Actor in a Drama Series The Americans Nominated [80]
2016 Best Actor in a Drama Series The Americans Nominated [81]
2019 Best Actor in a Drama Series The Americans Won [82]
2021 Best Actor in a Drama Series Perry Mason Nominated [83]
Drama League Award 2004 Distinguished Performance Look Back in Anger Nominated [84]
Golden Globe Awards 2016 Best Actor – Television Series Drama The Americans Nominated [85]
2018 Best Actor – Television Series Drama The Americans Nominated [86]
2020 Best Actor – Television Series Drama Perry Mason Nominated [87]
Primetime Emmy Awards 2016 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Americans (episode: "The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears") Nominated [88]
2017 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Girls (episode: "American Bitch") Nominated [89]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Americans (episode: "Crossbreed") Nominated
2018 The Americans (episode: "START") Won [90]
2021 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Perry Mason (episode: "Chapter 8") Nominated [91]
Satellite Awards 2017 Best Actor – Television Series Drama The Americans Nominated [92]
2019 Best Actor – Television Series Drama The Americans Nominated [93]
2021 Best Actor – Television Series Drama Perry Mason Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2018 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series The Americans Nominated [94]
TCA Awards 2013 Individual Achievement in Drama The Americans Nominated
2014 Individual Achievement in Drama The Americans Nominated
2015 Individual Achievement in Drama The Americans Nominated
2018 Individual Achievement in Drama The Americans Nominated

Bibliography

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Matthew Rhys

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Matthew Rhys Evans (born 8 November 1974) is a Welsh actor recognized for his leading roles in American television series.
Rhys rose to prominence portraying Kevin Walker, a lawyer and gay family member navigating personal and professional challenges, in the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters from 2006 to 2011. He achieved critical acclaim and industry awards for his role as Philip Jennings, a Soviet KGB officer posing as an American suburban father during the Cold War, in the FX series The Americans (2013–2018). For this performance, Rhys received two Golden Globe nominations and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018.
Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Rhys began his career in Welsh- and British productions before transitioning to Hollywood, where he has also directed episodes of HBO's Perry Mason and appeared in films including The Post (2017). His work often features complex characters grappling with identity, loyalty, and moral ambiguity, earning praise for nuanced portrayals grounded in his classical training.

Early life

Upbringing in Wales

Matthew Rhys was born Matthew Rhys Evans on 8 November 1974 in Cardiff, South Wales. He was raised in the city by his parents, Glyn Evans, a headmaster, and Helen Evans, a teacher of special needs children, alongside an older sister, Rachel, who later became a BBC broadcast journalist. The family maintained deep roots in Welsh heritage, with Rhys's paternal lineage tracing to Machynlleth in Mid Wales and his maternal side to Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, where family time was divided during his childhood. Growing up in a predominantly Welsh-speaking household, Rhys's first language was Welsh, fostering an early immersion in the language and culture spoken by approximately 900,000 people in Wales. Cardiff, described by Rhys as an "incredibly special place" that offered endless engagement for children, shaped his formative years in a vibrant urban environment within South Wales. This bilingual upbringing, supported by his parents' educational professions, emphasized discipline and intellectual pursuit, though Rhys has reflected on the city's dynamic energy as a counterbalance to any potential insularity.

Education and initial training

Rhys received his primary education at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, a Welsh-medium school in Whitchurch, Cardiff, where he first met fellow actor Ioan Gruffudd. He continued his secondary education at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, another Welsh-language institution in Cardiff, completing his schooling through the medium of Welsh. At age 16, Rhys joined the National Youth Theatre of Wales, participating in productions that honed his early performance skills. A year later, in 1991, he portrayed Elvis Presley in a school musical production, an experience that sparked his interest in pursuing acting professionally. Following the completion of his secondary education, Rhys applied to and was accepted at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, one of the UK's premier conservatories for dramatic training. At RADA, Rhys underwent intensive three-year training in classical and contemporary techniques, including vocal, accent, and dialect work, which emphasized emotional mapping and sense memory for character development. This formal instruction provided the foundational skills for his transition to professional stage and screen work in the mid-1990s.

Acting career

Early stage and television work (1990s–early 2000s)

Rhys commenced his professional stage career in the late 1990s with a role as Yanne in Stranger's House, a production at the National Theatre from December 1997 to January 1998. A significant breakthrough came in 2000 when he portrayed Benjamin Braddock in the world premiere of Terry Johnson's stage adaptation of The Graduate at London's Gielgud Theatre, co-starring with Kathleen Turner as Mrs. Robinson; the production opened on 5 April 2000 and drew acclaim for its bold staging of the 1967 film's themes of rebellion and seduction, running for over a year. In 2002, Rhys returned to the National Theatre for Simon Bent's The Associate at the Lyttelton Loft, playing the character Tiny in a drama exploring corporate intrigue and personal loyalties; critics noted the ensemble's intensity despite the play's uneven pacing. On television, Rhys secured his first major series lead as Matthew Bishop in the eight-part ITV drama Metropolis (2000), written by Peter Morgan, which depicted the intersecting lives and moral dilemmas of six Leeds University graduates navigating early adulthood in London; the series aired from 1 May 2000 and featured a cast including James Purefoy and Louise Lombard. Additional early television appearances included the titular role of George Bryan "Beau" Brummell in the BBC Wales drama Beau Brummell: This Charming Man (2004), a biographical film portraying the Regency-era dandy's rise and fall amid high society; the production highlighted Rhys's ability to convey charisma and vulnerability.

Breakthrough in American television (2006–2012)

In 2006, Matthew Rhys was cast as Kevin Walker, the youngest sibling in the Walker family, for the ABC drama series Brothers & Sisters, marking his transition to leading roles in American television. The series, which premiered on September 25, 2006, and concluded on May 8, 2011, after five seasons and 109 episodes, explored family dynamics, business intrigue, and personal challenges among the adult Walker siblings following their father's sudden death. Rhys portrayed Kevin as an openly gay corporate lawyer whose storylines involved balancing high-stakes legal work with familial loyalties, including pro bono cases and political aspirations that culminated in his appointment as California Attorney General. Rhys relocated from the United Kingdom to Santa Monica, California, to film the series, adopting an American accent to suit the character's Los Angeles setting and distancing himself from his prior Welsh-inflected roles in British productions. Kevin's relationships, notably his marriage to caterer Scotty Wandell (played by Luke Macfarlane) and their pursuits of adoption and surrogacy, provided central emotional arcs, with Rhys appearing in all episodes and occasionally directing later installments. During auditions, Rhys appreciated the character's integration of homosexuality without foregrounding identity struggles, reflecting a normalized depiction rare for network television at the time. The role garnered Rhys widespread recognition in the United States, establishing him as a versatile dramatic actor and opening doors to further Hollywood opportunities, though it did not yield major individual acting awards. In 2011, as the series ended, Rhys received the Siân Phillips Award from BAFTA Cymru for his contributions, highlighting the role's impact on his career trajectory. Brothers & Sisters averaged 10-12 million viewers in its early seasons, contributing to Rhys's breakthrough by showcasing his ability to convey moral complexity and emotional depth in ensemble storytelling.

Critical success with The Americans (2013–2018)

Rhys portrayed Philip Jennings, a KGB operative undercover as an American real estate agent alongside his wife Elizabeth (played by Keri Russell), in the FX espionage thriller The Americans, which premiered on January 30, 2013, and concluded after six seasons on May 30, 2018. His depiction of the character's moral ambiguities, shifting identities, and paternal struggles amid Cold War tensions drew acclaim for its emotional authenticity and range, with reviewers noting Rhys's skill in conveying vulnerability beneath a stoic facade. Critics praised episodes like the season 3 finale for Rhys's "spellbinding and heartbreaking" work, emphasizing how his performance humanized the spy's ethical erosion. The role marked a career pinnacle, earning Rhys two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama (2015 and 2017) and four consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2015–2018). He secured the Emmy in 2018 for the final season, a surprise victory in a competitive field that validated prior seasons' overlooked efforts, as Rhys himself quipped about the show's awards drought stemming from not "sleeping with the right people." Additional honors included a 2016 Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Rhys also directed five episodes starting in season 5, contributing to the series' technical polish and further immersing him in its narrative of deception and family dynamics. The performance elevated The Americans to consistent critical favor, with outlets like The Hollywood Reporter describing the leads' work as "superb" and integral to the show's convincing dual lives. This acclaim solidified Rhys's reputation for nuanced antiheroes, influencing subsequent roles.

Film roles and versatility (1990s–present)

Rhys's entry into film came in the late 1990s with supporting roles in independent British and Welsh productions. He debuted in the family drama House of America (1997), playing a teenager navigating disillusionment in a rural Welsh setting. In 1999, he appeared as Mutius Andronicus in Julie Taymor's adaptation of Shakespeare's Titus, contributing to the film's stylized depiction of Roman tragedy alongside Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange. The 2000s saw Rhys expand into lead and character roles across genres, highlighting his adaptability from comedy to historical drama. In Love and Other Disasters (2006), he portrayed Peter, a photographer in a London fashion circle, blending wit and vulnerability in Alek Keshishian's romantic comedy. His portrayal of poet Dylan Thomas in The Edge of Love (2008), a wartime romance directed by John Maybury, drew acclaim for embodying the writer's bohemian intensity amid complex relationships with Vera Phillips and Caitlin Macnamara. Into the 2010s, Rhys balanced biographical and ensemble films, often playing introspective professionals. He featured as a dual-role antagonist in The Scapegoat (2012), a psychological thriller based on Daphne du Maurier's novel, switching between a reclusive painter and his charismatic twin. In Burnt (2015), Rhys supported Bradley Cooper as a rival chef in the culinary drama, showcasing competitive edge in high-stakes kitchen scenes. His turn as Pentagon whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg in Steven Spielberg's The Post (2017) emphasized moral conviction during the Pentagon Papers leak, contributing to the film's exploration of journalistic integrity. Later films underscored Rhys's genre versatility, from voice work to character-driven narratives. He voiced the spectral wolf Bhoot in Andy Serkis's Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018), adding ethereal guidance to the origin story. As investigative journalist Lloyd Vogel in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), Rhys conveyed cynicism fracturing into empathy opposite Tom Hanks's Fred Rogers, with critics noting his raw portrayal of personal reckoning. In Cocaine Bear (2023), he played Andrew Thornton, the drug smuggler, in Elizabeth Banks's horror-comedy, injecting urgency and dark humor into the survival chaos. Rhys's film work reflects a command of varied archetypes—poets, whistleblowers, skeptics, and everymen—spanning period pieces, biopics, and genre hybrids, with reviewers attributing his effectiveness to nuanced emotional layering rather than typecasting. Upcoming projects like Hallow Road (2025), a supernatural thriller, and Saturday Night (2024), depicting the origins of Saturday Night Live, further illustrate this range.

Theatre returns and recent projects (2019–2025)

In May 2024, Rhys participated in a dramatic reading of Dear Mr. Thomas: A New Play for Voices by Christopher Monger at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, portraying the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in a one-act piece exploring the poet's final American tour and relationship with Elizabeth Reitell; the event, co-starring Keri Russell as Reitell, was presented on International Dylan Thomas Day and later made available for streaming in October 2024. This marked one of his rare stage appearances following a prolonged focus on screen work. In September 2025, it was announced that Rhys would star as Richard Burton in the one-man play Playing Burton by Mark Jenkins, a fundraising production for the Welsh National Theatre celebrating Burton's centenary; performances are scheduled across Welsh venues including Cardigan, Wrexham, Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Bangor, and Swansea from November 16 to 28, 2025, with additional dates at London's Old Vic on December 2 and 3. The role represents Rhys's return to the Welsh stage after 22 years and to London theatre after 21 years. Beyond theatre, Rhys maintained an active presence in film and television during this period. In 2019, he portrayed investigative journalist Lloyd Vogel in the biographical drama A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, directed by Marielle Heller, depicting the relationship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod; the film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Tom Hanks's portrayal of Rogers. From 2020 to 2023, Rhys served as an executive producer on the HBO reboot of Perry Mason, starring Matthew McConaughey, contributing to its development through his production company while making select appearances. He provided the voice of Emperor Belos in the animated Disney series The Owl House across multiple episodes from 2020 to 2022. In 2024, Rhys voiced Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl in the animated Watchmen Chapter II and played comedian George Carlin in the historical comedy Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, which dramatizes the creation of the inaugural episode of Saturday Night Live on October 11, 1975; the film earned positive reviews for its ensemble performances. Upcoming projects include the lead role of Nile Jarvis in the 2025 Netflix miniseries The Beast in Me, a thriller, and a supporting part in the horror film Hallow Road, set for release in 2025. These endeavors highlight Rhys's continued versatility across genres, balancing production roles with acting.

Production and entrepreneurial activities

Founding of Patagonia Productions

Matthew Rhys established Patagonia Productions in 2011, drawing on earnings from his roles in American television series such as Brothers & Sisters to finance the venture. The company, named after the Patagonian region with which Rhys has a longstanding personal affinity due to its historical Welsh settlements, was created to develop original film and television projects reflecting his cultural interests, particularly those tied to Welsh heritage. At inception, Patagonia Productions had two projects in active development, though specific details on their progression remain limited in public records. Rhys's move into production aligned with his broader entrepreneurial pursuits, allowing greater creative control beyond acting while prioritizing narratives connected to his Welsh roots and international experiences. The company's formation marked an early step in Rhys's expansion from performer to producer, emphasizing independent storytelling over mainstream commercial output.

Investments in Welsh hospitality and pubs

In 2021, Rhys invested in the preservation of the Vale of Aeron pub, located in Ystrad Aeron near Felinfach in Ceredigion, a historic venue frequented by the poet Dylan Thomas. As part of the community-led Menter Tafarn y Vale (also referred to as Menter Tafarn y Dyffryn) initiative, which sought to raise £330,000 through a share offer—priced at £1 per share with a minimum investment of £200 and maximum of £30,000—Rhys purchased shares in November 2021. He promoted the effort on Twitter, encouraging others to invest by stating, "I’ve just bought shares in a pub that Dylan Thomas used to frequent… Should you wish to do the same…" The campaign exceeded its target before Christmas 2021, enabling the pub's acquisition and reopening under community ownership. Rhys extended similar support to the Glan yr Afon pub (also known as the Riverside) in Pennal, Gwynedd, a village tied to his family heritage where his father was raised and where Rhys spent summers and Easters in his youth. In 2022, he contributed personally to the Menter y Glan community's fundraising drive, which aimed to collect £450,000 to purchase and sustain the establishment amid closure threats. The effort succeeded by December 2022, with the pub reopening in February 2023; Rhys attended the official relaunch event in July 2023, describing his involvement as a "no brainer" due to the venue's local significance. These investments reflect Rhys's commitment to community-driven models for maintaining Welsh pub culture, rather than direct personal ownership, emphasizing share-based participation to foster local stewardship and economic viability. No broader hospitality ventures, such as hotels, have been publicly associated with him in Wales.

Charter yacht restoration and maritime pursuits

In 2017, Matthew Rhys purchased Rarebit, a 1939 Wheeler Playmate wooden fishing cruiser, for $30,000 sight unseen after developing an interest in vintage wooden boats through prior charters. The vessel, measuring approximately 38 feet and of the same class and era as Ernest Hemingway's Pilar, required extensive restoration due to its age and condition, including structural repairs, engine overhauls, and cosmetic refinishing. The restoration project spanned four years, costing tens of thousands of dollars and involving Rhys's personal manual labor alongside professional assistance from captain Kelli Farwell. By late 2021, Rarebit was seaworthy and relocated to ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina, where Rhys launched a charter service named Moveable Feast, offering cruises around New York Harbor for up to six passengers at $685 per hour with a two-hour minimum. The operation emphasized the boat's historical charm, providing intimate tours of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey embarkation points. Rhys's maritime pursuits extended beyond restoration to operational chartering until at least 2023, when announcements indicated preparations for Rarebit's final voyage amid shifts in the business, including Farwell's departure to a new venture in 2024. Despite family members expressing less enthusiasm for the endeavor, Rhys has continued to reference the boat as a personal passion project into 2025.

Personal life

Long-term relationship with Keri Russell

Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell first encountered each other in 2002 at a kickball party hosted by actress Jennifer Grey, where Rhys, emboldened by alcohol, requested Russell's phone number; the two met briefly in a parking lot afterward, but no further contact ensued at that time. They reconnected professionally in 2012 on the set of the FX series The Americans, where they were cast as husband and wife KGB spies Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, whose on-screen marriage evolved in tandem with their off-screen rapport. Their romantic involvement commenced during production of The Americans, with public confirmation in April 2014 after they were photographed embracing at the Public Theater in New York City while attending a play. The pair has described the early stages as involving flirtation amid long filming hours, with Russell later recalling a "sexy" initiation tied to their shared professional intensity. In May 2016, Russell gave birth to their son, Sam, marking Rhys's first child and Russell's third overall; the couple announced the name and gender months later while emphasizing their desire for privacy. As of 2025, Rhys and Russell remain unmarried, with Rhys humorously noting in interviews that they have not yet formalized their partnership despite over a decade together. The relationship has been characterized by discretion, with the couple rarely sharing details publicly beyond occasional anecdotes about balancing parenthood with demanding careers; they have collaborated professionally post-The Americans, including Rhys directing Russell in episodes of her series The Diplomat. No verified reports of separation exist, countering occasional unsubstantiated rumors.

Family and privacy considerations

Matthew Rhys and partner Keri Russell welcomed a son, Sam, in 2016. Russell, previously married to Shane Deary from 2007 to 2013, has two children from that union: daughter Willa, born in 2011, and son River, born in 2007. The couple, who began dating in late 2013 while co-starring on The Americans, resides in Brooklyn, New York, with their blended family. Rhys has described fatherhood as profoundly transformative, noting in a 2025 interview that raising Sam has made him "cry a lot easier" and heightened his emotional sensitivity. He and Russell have consistently prioritized their children's privacy, rarely sharing details or photographs of Sam or Russell's older children in public forums. This approach aligns with their broader strategy of shielding personal matters from media scrutiny, including keeping their relationship under wraps for its first year. The couple's romance was inadvertently exposed in 2014 following a burglary at Russell's New York apartment, where Rhys's belongings were reported stolen, confirming their cohabitation to tabloids. Despite such incidents, Rhys and Russell have maintained a deliberate low profile on family life, avoiding joint red-carpet appearances with their children and limiting disclosures to occasional, guarded comments in interviews focused on professional contexts. This reticence reflects a conscious effort to separate their private sphere from public personas, with Rhys emphasizing in discussions the value of normalcy for his son amid their acting careers.

Reception

Critical assessments and acting style

![Matthew Rhys as Lloyd Vogel in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood](./assets/A_Beautiful_Day_in_the_Neighborhood_05_4873482782148734827821
Matthew Rhys's acting style is characterized by subtle emotional depth and a capacity for conveying internal vulnerability, often portraying characters burdened by moral and psychological complexities. Critics have described him as the "Sad King of Male Vulnerability," highlighting his ability to infuse roles with pathos and slow-burn identity crises, as seen in his Emmy-winning portrayal of Philip Jennings in The Americans, where the character carries a "soul-crushing burden." His approach emphasizes authenticity over overt display, avoiding overacting in favor of lived-in reactions that invite audience curiosity. Rhys demonstrates versatility through seamless transitions across genres and personas, from undercover spies to journalists and lawyers, often mastering accents that obscure his Welsh origins. In A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), he played skeptical reporter Lloyd Vogel with "earnest vulnerability," providing the film's emotional core and marking a shift toward roles exploring empathy and personal growth. His technical skill—described as soulful, hyper-intelligent, and funny—supports this range, enabling effective portrayals in both television and theater. In Perry Mason (HBO, Season 2, 2023), Rhys elevated the series with a nuanced, magnetic performance as the titular defense attorney, reacting deliberately to revelations and conveying irked determination rather than mere mourning, which deepened the character's evolution from Season 1. However, assessments are not uniformly laudatory; his 2012 Broadway turn as Jimmy Porter in Look Back in Anger drew mixed reviews, with some finding the performance "studied but rarely stimulating," lacking the blistering intensity needed to fully ignite the role's rage. Rhys himself has critiqued his early The Americans seasons as overcompensated efforts to match co-star Keri Russell, contrasting with the refined subtlety of later work that earned critical acclaim.

Awards and nominations

Matthew Rhys has accumulated 5 wins and 50 nominations across various awards ceremonies, reflecting recognition primarily for his television performances. His breakthrough accolades include a win for Best Actor at the BAFTA Cymru Awards for the Welsh-language film Y Syrcas (also known as Be Brave), awarded in the early 2000s. In 2011, BAFTA Wales honored him with the Siân Phillips Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema, acknowledging his rising international profile. Rhys's portrayal of Philip Jennings in The Americans (2013–2018) garnered the most prominent recognition, including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 after four prior nominations in the category from 2015 to 2017. He also won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for the same role in 2019. Additional nominations for The Americans encompassed a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama in 2019. For Perry Mason (2020), Rhys received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama in 2021 and a Critics' Choice Award nomination in the same category. In 2026, Rhys was nominated for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or a Motion Picture Made for Television at the Golden Globe Awards for his role in the Netflix series The Beast in Me. He was also nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television at the Critics' Choice Awards for the same role.
YearAwardCategoryNominated/Won forResult
2018Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesThe AmericansWon
2019Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Actor in a Drama SeriesThe AmericansWon
2021Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor – Television Series DramaPerry MasonNominated
2019Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor – Television Series DramaThe AmericansNominated
2026Golden Globe AwardsBest Actor – Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for TelevisionThe Beast in MeNominated
2026Critics' Choice AwardsBest Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for TelevisionThe Beast in MeNominated

Public persona and cultural impact

Matthew Rhys maintains a relatively private public persona, eschewing the high-profile publicity often associated with Hollywood actors in favor of a focus on his craft and cultural roots. Despite achieving prominence through roles in American television series such as The Americans (2013–2018), where he portrayed a multifaceted Soviet spy capable of assuming diverse identities, Rhys has consistently emphasized discretion in his personal life, allowing his professional output to define his image rather than tabloid exposure. This approach aligns with his reputation for portraying emotionally vulnerable male characters, as seen in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), where critics noted his ability to embody introspective depth without overt sensationalism. Rhys's cultural impact stems largely from his advocacy for Welsh heritage and the Welsh language, leveraging his international success to elevate awareness of his native country's traditions. He has publicly underscored the importance of preserving minority languages like Welsh, recounting encounters abroad that highlighted its global relevance and arguing for its cultural survival as a point of personal and collective identity. In 2017, he received commendation from the Welsh government via the St. David Awards for utilizing his platform to promote Wales and Welsh identity both domestically and internationally. This commitment extends to practical support, including his 2025 portrayal of Richard Burton in the one-man play Playing Burton, performed to raise funds for the Welsh National Theatre's inaugural season and marking his return to the Welsh stage after over two decades. His involvement in Welsh cultural institutions further amplifies this influence; Rhys has credited youth organizations like the Urdd for shaping his early life and career, paying tribute to their role in fostering national pride during the group's centennial celebrations in 2022. Through such efforts, Rhys embodies a bridge between Welsh parochialism and global entertainment, encouraging younger generations to embrace their linguistic and historical roots amid pressures of assimilation.

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