Actor Matthew Rhys Reveals How Fatherhood Has Influenced His Performance

The 50-year-old actor will star in the upcoming thriller ‘Hallow Road’ premiering in May.

Matthew Rhys arrives for the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2024. Michael Tran/AFP via Getty Images

Matthew Rhys credits fatherhood with shaping his performance in the upcoming thriller “Hallow Road.”

The 50-year-old actor said that raising his 8-year-old son Sam with his partner, actress Keri Russell, has helped him connect deeply with his role as a desperate father trying to protect his child.

“I think once you do become a parent and you do allow yourself those thoughts ... the thought of having a child go through what happens in the film is horrifying,” Rhys told People on the red carpet during the South by Southwest Film Festival. “So all you have to do is allow yourself the real thought of it.”

Directed by Babak Anvari, “Hallow Road” follows two parents who receive a distressing late-night call from their daughter after she is involved in a tragic car accident. The film also stars Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike.

Rhys, known for his roles in “The Americans” and “Perry Mason,” shared how fatherhood has influenced him both on and off screen.

“I cry a lot easier these days since I became a father for reasons I don’t know why,” he said.

In addition to his son Sam, Rhys also helps raise Russell’s two children from her previous relationship—River, 17, and Willa Lou, 12. He noted another connection between himself and his character: both are fathers of children who are now old enough to drive.

“[River] has passed his [driving] test in New York, God bless him,” Rhys said. “I think if he can drive there, he can drive anywhere.”

Rhys’s Career

Born in Cardiff, Wales, on Nov. 8, 1974, Matthew Rhys Evans developed a passion for acting at an early age. He attended Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, a Welsh-language school, before pursuing drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. His first major role came in 1999 when he starred in “Greenstone,” a television series based in New Zealand.

Rhys gained international recognition with his role as Kevin Walker in ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters,” which ran from 2006 to 2011. His performance as Philip Jennings in FX’s “The Americans” earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He has also won a BAFTA Cymru Award and received multiple nominations for Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Since then, he has taken on diverse roles, including the title character in HBO’s “Perry Mason” and Mr. Darcy in “Death Comes to Pemberley.”

Outside of his acting career, Rhys has also explored other creative endeavors. He co-owns a production company and has narrated multiple audiobooks. Additionally, he produced and starred in “The Wine Show,” a documentary-style series that explores global wine culture.