Actor Matthew Rhys has joked that he chooses his acting roles based on how much they pay, as he balances his career with family commitments. The Welsh actor starred in Brothers & Sisters and The Americans and won a Primetime Emmy for the latter in 2018. Since then, he has constructed a diverse filmography in television and movies. His latest projects continue to prove his versatility outside of his celebrated dramatic performances. 

For Rhys, the decision-making process behind his next role may be less glamorous than the performances themselves, with family finances playing a surprisingly big part. 

Matthew Rhys has joked that money is the No 1 factor to consider when choosing his next acting project, adding that whoever pays the most wins. Speaking to Variety, The Americans star made the candid comment about how he chooses his roles, saying it comes down to the realities of supporting his family. Rhys said he has no shame about making money and joked that with three children and a mortgage he is ready to chase the best-paying opportunities.

“I’ll get after it. I have no shame, I’ll w**** myself with the best of them,” he joked about the financial pressures of supporting his family.

Rhys also praised Widow’s Bay during the interview, saying it was a script like none he had ever read before and one he was instantly excited to do. Then he learned that Hiro Murai would direct it, and he said it was an exciting opportunity. Rhys had joked earlier about picking parts for the money, but his remarks made it clear he was also drawn to Widow’s Bay for its strong writing and the opportunity to work with Murai. 

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Beyond the jokes about money, Rhys has built a career defined by memorable characters and acclaimed performances across television, film and theater. 

Matthew Rhys has worked in television, film, and theater, with some of his most acclaimed work being in American television. He became known as Kevin Walker on Brothers & Sisters and landed his breakout role as KGB spy Philip Jennings on FX’s The Americans, a role for which he received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He later starred as the title character in HBO’s Perry Mason and has continued to take on roles, including The Beast in Me, Hallow Road and Widow’s Bay. 

Meanwhile, Rhys’ candid comments provide a humorous insight into the pragmatic side of an actor’s career, where sometimes the real world dictates creative decisions. While he joked about following the money, his excitement for Widow’s Bay shows that a great script and an exciting creative team still matter when you are choosing a project. Rhys has an acclaimed career spanning television, film, and theater and still balances commercial opportunities with roles that challenge him as an actor. 

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Do you agree with Matthew Rhys that the highest-paying role should win? Let us know in the comments.