Matthew Rhys facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matthew Rhys
Rhys in 2011
Born	Matthew Rhys Evans (1974-11-08) 8 November 1974 (age 50) Cardiff, Wales
Education	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1997–present
Partner(s)	Keri Russell (2014-present)
Children	1

Matthew Rhys Evans (born 8 November 1974) is a Welsh actor. He is well-known for playing Kevin Walker in the TV show Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011). He also starred as Philip Jennings in the spy drama The Americans (2013–2018). For his role in The Americans, he won a top acting award, the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, in 2018. He also won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series in 2019.

Matthew Rhys was also nominated for an Emmy for his guest role in Girls (2017). He received another Emmy nomination for playing the main character in the show Perry Mason (2020–2023).

In movies, Rhys played Dylan Thomas in The Edge of Love (2008). He was also Daniel Ellsberg in The Post (2017). He starred as a journalist in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019). Matthew Rhys has also lent his voice to animated shows. He voiced Emperor Belos in The Owl House (2020–2023).

Early Life and Education

Matthew Rhys was born in Cardiff, Wales, on 8 November 1974. His first language is Welsh. He grew up in Cardiff and went to Welsh-speaking schools. These included Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf. In 1993, he received a special scholarship called the Patricia Rothermere Scholarship.

When he was 17, Matthew played Elvis Presley in a school musical. After that, he applied to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and was accepted. While studying at RADA, he appeared in the BBC police show Backup. He also acted in the film House of America. He later returned to Cardiff to act in a Welsh film called Bydd yn Wrol (which means Be Brave). He won the Best Actor award at the BAFTA Cymru (Welsh BAFTAs) for this role.

Acting Career Highlights

Rhys at the 2007 GLAAD Awards

In 1998, Matthew Rhys traveled to New Zealand. He starred in Greenstone, a TV show about colonial times. After that, he got a role in Titus, a movie directed by Julie Taymor. This film starred famous actors like Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange. He then played Ray in the comedy film Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?.

After returning to Wales, he worked on two films with Jonathan Pryce. These were The Testimony of Taliesin Jones and the comedy Very Annie Mary. In Very Annie Mary, he played a character named Nob. Later, Rhys worked again with his Very Annie Mary co-star Rachel Griffiths on the show Brothers & Sisters.

Early 2000s Roles

In 2000, Rhys played the main character in Metropolis. This was a drama series about young people living in London. He also starred in Peaches, a film based on a play. Matthew Rhys played Benjamin in the first stage version of The Graduate in London's West End. He then went to Ireland for the adventure film The Abduction Club. He also played Darren Daniels in Tabloid. He returned to New Zealand to film the drama The Lost World for the BBC. Other movies he appeared in include the horror film Deathwatch and the crime comedy Fakers.

In 2003, he appeared in the last episode of the long-running TV series Columbo. He was also in the independent film Love and Other Disasters and Virgin Territory. He played the poet Dylan Thomas in the movie The Edge of Love.

Moving to America and Major TV Roles

Matthew Rhys moved to Santa Monica after being cast in the ABC show Brothers & Sisters. He played Kevin Walker, a lawyer. The show ran for five seasons and ended in 2011.

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

In 2012, Rhys appeared in a two-part BBC drama. It was based on Charles Dickens's unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. That same year, Rhys played a double role in a new version of Daphne du Maurier's The Scapegoat. He also acted in the play Look Back in Anger in New York City. In 2013, Rhys starred as Fitzwilliam Darcy in the TV show Death Comes to Pemberley. This show was based on a novel by P. D. James.

He then starred with Keri Russell in the FX series The Americans. This show was a spy drama set in the 1980s during the Cold War. Rhys and Russell played Russian KGB agents who pretended to be a married couple with children. The show started in January 2013 and finished its sixth and final season in 2018. Matthew Rhys won a Primetime Emmy Award for his acting in the final season.

Other Ventures

Matthew Rhys has also been involved in other projects outside of acting.

Patagonia Productions

In 2011, Matthew Rhys started his own production company called Patagonia. This company is working on two projects. One project is a film based on a book called Operation Julie. ..... Rhys bought the rights to the book in 2010. In 2023, Rhys mentioned that he has been working on a possible film about the life of Owain Glyndŵr. Glyndŵr led a rebellion in Wales against England starting in 1400.

Pubs

Matthew Rhys has helped support local pubs in Wales. With the help of actor Rhys Ifans, he helped raise money for the Vale of Aeron pub in Ystrad Aeron. Rhys also invested in another pub called Glan Yr Afon (also known as Riverside) in Pennal. This is a town in North Wales where his father grew up. In 2019, the Glan Yr Afon pub was going to close. However, a campaign supported by Rhys helped raise £450,000 from the public. This money saved the pub, and the local community bought it in December 2022.

Charter Yacht

In New York City, Matthew Rhys owns a charter boat named Rarebit. This boat was built around 1934. Rhys bought it from eBay in 2017 after doing research. He rebuilt the boat himself with advice from boat builders.

Personal Life

Matthew Rhys has been in a relationship with his The Americans co-star Keri Russell since 2014. They had their first child, a son, in 2016. As of 2025, they have not yet married.

He supports Plaid Cymru, a political party in Wales. He actively supports the idea of Welsh independence.

On 15 July 2008, Aberystwyth University honored Rhys as a fellow. On 8 August 2008, he was honored at the Welsh National Eisteddfod. He became a member of the Gorsedd of the Bards. This was for his contributions to the Welsh language and Wales. His special name in the Gorsedd is Matthew Tâf. In August 2009, Rhys performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Wales at the National Eisteddfod.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Matthew Rhys para niños