Matthew Rhys’ 10 Best Movies & TV Series, According To IMDb

Matthew Rhys, most famous for his devastating lead role on the surprisingly relevant The Americans, has been cast as the latest iteration of the legendary lawyer Perry Mason. It is undoubtedly the beginning of a career that will see Rhys utilize his friendly yet somber demeanor in a multitude of roles appropriate for the battle between light and dark the 21st century has presented to film and TV viewers thus far.

While Rhys’ resume might look very different in a decade, this article reveals the foundation of Matthew Rhys’ work. In his decisions and casting positions, the outline of tomorrow’s character actor and a reluctant lead is unveiled.

10 Very Annie Mary (6.8)

There is not much existing coverage of Welsh cinema or the Welsh in Hollywood. Matthew Rhys, as well as his recently Oscar-nominated Very Annie Mary co-star Jonathan Pryce, hail from the same United Kingdom nation. That film, directed by female director Sara Sugarman, is a love letter to the locale.

Besides providing a look into the roots of now-established actors, Very Annie Mary is a musical. It’s rough around the edges, but, in addition to requiring singing and dancing of its cast, that only allows for a more naked view into the abilities of a few talented Welsh entertainers.

9 Titus (7.1)

Titus, regaling in the military and political dealings of Titus Andronicus and his counterparts, was only mildly successful compared to the following year’s Roman swords and sandals epic. While Anthony Hopkins is a giant capable of carrying the emperor’s throne, an underdog tale of Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius proved more appealing to the masses.

In Titus, Matthew Rhys has a bit part, assigned to hopelessly battle Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the Shakespeare adaptation. While small, Rhys’ turn proved a critical part of his path to success.

8 The Report (7.2)

Not unlike its subject matter, The Report did not make its way to a broad enough portion of the American consciousness. Adam Driver plays Daniel Jones, a staffer on The Hill tasked with digging into the government’s use of torture during the “War on Terror.” It sounds like Oscar bait but garnered little attention from the Academy.

Matthew Rhys has a small role as a New York Times reporter. While it is not a groundbreaking display of his quiet, multifaceted talent, being in rooms with the big Hollywood names behind The Report surely proved valuable for Rhys’ still nascent career.

7 The Post (7.2)

Matthew Rhys’ apparent wheelhouse is the espionage drama. Between The Report, his marquee role in The Americans, and his role in The Post, Rhys has discovered the way to capitalize on his pregnant, unassuming presence. While it is primarily a journalism film, his character in this Spielberg Oscar nominee is the real-life Daniel Ellsberg, one of American history’s most famous whistleblowers.

Rhys’ performance did not generate as much attention as a preceding key witness role such as Mark Rylance’s turn in Bridge of Spies, but Hollywood’s awareness of Rhys as a brooding talent was both made apparent and accelerated.

6 Brothers & Sisters (7.3)

Brothers & Sisters might be considered a more cynical Modern Family. Whether that formula is one for more laughs or less is dependent on the viewer. The death of wealthy family patriarch William Walker brings together servicemen, activists, and plenty of folks with business interests, all to realistically complicated ends.

Within the family dynamic, Matthew Rhys is the subtly influential Kevin Walker. His relationship with Scotty Wandell has been appreciated by viewers, critics, and progressives, while Rhys’ hand in navigating Walker family drama is equally important.

5 Girls (7.3)

For better or worse, HBO’s Girls was a show situated on the front lines of the culture wars. Its outspoken creator and star Lena Dunham crafted episodes that not only sparked conversation but often took a firm viewpoint on complex topics. In early 2017, the sixth season’s “American B*tch” aimed at addressing sexual assault perpetrated by powerful men before the #MeToo movement significantly took off.

Dunham’s Hannah agrees to meet with famous writer Chuck Palmer, played by Matthew Rhys, who wants to make his case against sexual assault allegations which Hannah has covered on her blog. The interaction plays out with much discomfort and insightful nuance.

4 A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (7.3)

Based on Esquire journalist Tom Junod’s true story, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood begins when Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is sent to interview “Mr. Rogers” of children’s television. Discouraged with life and the assignment, Vogel sets a course for a piece that will tarnish Rogers – revealing a flawed human behind the smiling facade.

Of course, the real-life Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) is every bit as magical and dear as his onscreen persona. What ends up happening is the opposite of Vogel’s plans, as his lost moral center is rediscovered.

3 Columbo (8.2)

Peter Falk was TV’s Detective Columbo from 1971 through 2003. Inspired by a Dostoevsky character, the snoop’s brilliance was in his seemingly casual, aloof demeanor. In actuality, Columbo was always one step ahead of the bad guy.

At the very brink of this epic career and run, Columbo nabbed his final killer in a Matthew Rhys character. An exhausting romp through LA’s rave scene leads the seventysomething detective to Justin Price in the episode “Columbo Likes the Nightlife.” Their onscreen confrontation might now be thought of as a passing of the noir torch.

2 Infinity Train (8.4)

Cartoon Network’s Infinity Train follows a fantastical train in which every car is a world of its own (not to be confused with the bleaker Snowpiercer). The show is innovative in the cartoon space as an anthology series.

Matthew Rhys lends his voice to the world’s Alrick Timmens, whose tragic death provides much of widow Amelia Hughes’ motivation throughout “Book One.” She boards the infinity train while in mourning, attempts to bring him back to life, and eventually becomes the train’s conductor with the determination of someone with nothing left to lose.

1 The Americans (8.4)

In Reagan’s United States, an understated suburban married couple are actually KGB assets. FX’s The Americans kept contemporary Americans transfixed for six seasons with its cold-blooded espionage and fascinating blend of world history and everyday life.

Matthew Rhys, who co-stars with Keri Russell, provides the show’s silent engine. He is sinister yet sincere, all while being a regular guy. For his performances in the series’ final season, he was finally awarded an Emmy.

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