Born:
November 08, 1974
in
Cardiff
Best Known For:
Brothers & Sisters and The Americans.
Early-life:
Born Matthew Rhys Evans in Cardiff on November 8, 1974, he is the son of a headmaster and a teacher who encouraged him to follow his dream of becoming a professional actor. He has an older sister, Rachel, who is a journalist; they both attended Welsh-speaking schools. Matthew studied drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada), and during this period shared a flat with his childhood friend and fellow future star Ioan Gruffud. While at Rada, Matthew had roles in low-budget Welsh film House of America and BBC police drama Backup.
Career:
In 1998, Rhys filmed New Zealand costume drama Greenstone before landing a part in box-office flop Titus. He had better luck a year later when he played a lead role opposite Kathleen Turner in the world premiere of the stage adaptation of The Graduate in the West End. He enjoyed worldwide recognition after being cast in American drama Brothers & Sisters as lawyer Kevin Walker. The show ran for five seasons before coming to an end in 2011. More recently, Rhys has appeared in BBC costume dramas The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Death Comes to Pemberley, and ITV's Daphne Du Maurier adaptation The Scapegoat. In 2013, he began starring opposite Keri Russell in 1980s Cold War drama The Americans.
Quote:
"I've suffered from an identity crisis my entire life. It's why I went into acting."
Trivia:
He is a patron of Trust PA, a UK spinal injuries charity.