Matthew Rhys is opening up about the personal stories, career memories and unexpected quirks fans may not know about him.
The 51-year-old actor, known for The Americans, Girls, The Beast in Me and his new series Widow’s Bay, shared 25 personal facts while discussing the growing attention surrounding his latest project.
Rhys also reflected on how long Widow’s Bay could realistically continue, joking that a mystery series has to be careful not to stretch its central questions too far.
He compared the challenge to Scooby-Doo, explaining that if viewers figure everything out long before the characters do, the story risks losing its audience.
Outside acting, Rhys revealed that one of his biggest interests is being around the water.
He joked that owning a boat might not be the most practical idea and suggested that having friends with boats could be the smarter option.
Among the more personal revelations, Rhys said the possession he would save first in a fire would actually be his dog.
He also revealed that he once collected military badges, while his favorite comfort food remains a traditional Welsh lamb and vegetable soup his mother used to make.
One of his earliest starstruck moments happened when he met Anthony Hopkins at age 24.
Rhys recalled Hopkins introducing himself simply as “Tony,” which felt surreal because the legendary actor had already been one of his lifelong heroes.
As for childhood celebrity crushes, Rhys named Kylie Minogue and Elisabeth Shue.
His affection for Minogue clearly hasn’t disappeared entirely, as he joked that her songs still give him a romantic rush.
Rhys also admitted to having an irrational fear of rats after once mistaking a particularly large one for a cat.
When discussing his career, The Americans remains especially meaningful to him — not only because of the success of the series, but because it is where he met his longtime partner, Keri Russell.
Rhys joked that the two becoming Emmy nominees at the same time created some “cold competition” at home, though he ultimately described the experience as a fun opportunity for them to attend together.
He also recalled one of the most nerve-wracking scenes of his career.
While filming Titus, Rhys and Jonathan Rhys Meyers were hung upside down while appearing naked, with their hands tied behind their backs.
In the scene, Anthony Hopkins’ character slit their throats, and prosthetic effects released fake blood onto their faces.
Rhys said it was the most nervous he has ever been while filming.
Other career memories include his unusual experience working on Girls, where his standalone episode was rehearsed almost like a stage play.
He also revealed that he refuses to read reviews of his own performances after receiving an especially harsh critique while appearing in a play with Paul Bettany.
Rhys named Robert Downey Jr. as the most famous person saved in his phone and said Javier Bardem is someone he would especially like to work with.
Away from Hollywood, he remains a passionate sports fan, particularly of the Welsh national rugby team.
Before becoming an actor, Rhys even briefly worked pressing names and numbers onto ice hockey jerseys — a job that resulted in more than a few burned fingers.
Looking ahead, one major item remains on his bucket list: crossing the Atlantic by sailboat.
For Rhys, being around water has become one of the simplest ways to relax, whether he is actually on a boat or simply looking out across the harbor.
