Post by Kate on Jun 7, 2007 7:04:03 GMT -5
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Show To Make Rhys Famous Face
Jun 7 2007
by Karen Price, Western Mail
ACTOR Matthew Rhys is hoping to emulate his success in the US back in Britain when a new TV drama begins this month – even though he is originally from Wales.
Rhys is in the rare position of being more famous Stateside, regularly getting stopped by fans in the celebrity hotbed that is LA.
Back home, he is well-known among movie fans but is not yet a household name like Ioan Gruffudd or Catherine Zeta-Jones.
But TV executives believe Rhys is set for major stardom when the hit American drama he appears in is screened on prime-time TV in the UK.
The first series of Brothers & Sisters pulled in up to 15 million viewers when it was screened by the ABC network in the States.
Now Channel 4 has bought the rights to the series and the first two episodes will be aired on June 20. They will also be broadcast by Welsh language channel S4C.
Television executives believe Brothers & Sisters, which also stars Sally Field, Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe, will be as popular as other imported US dramas, such as Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives.
Rhys, 32, who is currently filming the leading role in the new Dylan Thomas movie, The Edge Of Love, is preparing to deal with newfound fame in the UK.
“If it happens then great,” said Rhys, whose best friend is fellow Welshman and Hollywood star Gruffudd. “But I have been doing this [acting] long enough now that if it doesn’t happen then it won’t worry me.”
Brothers & Sisters follows the lives of the California-based Walker family.
When patriarch William Walker dies unexpectedly at a family birthday celebration, the family is forced to face up to reality.
Rhys was a late casting in the role of gay lawyer Kevin after another actor was dropped following the pilot episode.
Rhys was recognised in LA the morning after the first episode was aired. “I was in a coffee shop when a woman came up to me to say how much she’d enjoyed the show,” he said. “It was the first time I’d been recognised in America and it felt strange.
“I probably get stopped now every week by people who want to tell you how much they love the show.”
Rhys believes British people will enjoy Brothers & Sisters as much as the Americans.
“It’s a back-to-basics simple family drama which deals with big issues,” he said.
“There’s no flashy concept involved. It has universal themes – it doesn’t matter how big or small or rich or poor a family is, they deal with the same issues.”
Rhys says he was “very excited” to land the part. “Ioan (Gruffudd) and I had been going out to America for pilot seasons for about eight years and it’s what you wish for – a role in a big well-written, well-cast TV series.”
After 13 months living in LA, Rhys returned to Wales in May to start filming The Edge Of Love. But he will be back in LA, where he rents a bungalow, in July to start filming the second series of Brothers & Sisters.
The first episode of Brothers & Sisters will be broadcast by Channel 4 on June 20 at 8.30pm with the second episode the same night at 10pm. The first episode will be screened by S4C on June 20 at 9.30pm and the second episode will go out on June 27 at 9.30pm.
Matthew Rhys CV
Age: 32
Born: Cardiff.
Studied: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada)
Status: Single
Career highlights: He starred opposite Kathleen Turner in the West End version of The Graduate, played Romeo with the Royal Shakespeare Company and was First Voice in Under Milk Wood. His film roles include Very Annie Mary, The Abduction Club, House Of America and Love and Other Disasters.
Show To Make Rhys Famous Face
Jun 7 2007
by Karen Price, Western Mail
ACTOR Matthew Rhys is hoping to emulate his success in the US back in Britain when a new TV drama begins this month – even though he is originally from Wales.
Rhys is in the rare position of being more famous Stateside, regularly getting stopped by fans in the celebrity hotbed that is LA.
Back home, he is well-known among movie fans but is not yet a household name like Ioan Gruffudd or Catherine Zeta-Jones.
But TV executives believe Rhys is set for major stardom when the hit American drama he appears in is screened on prime-time TV in the UK.
The first series of Brothers & Sisters pulled in up to 15 million viewers when it was screened by the ABC network in the States.
Now Channel 4 has bought the rights to the series and the first two episodes will be aired on June 20. They will also be broadcast by Welsh language channel S4C.
Television executives believe Brothers & Sisters, which also stars Sally Field, Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe, will be as popular as other imported US dramas, such as Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives.
Rhys, 32, who is currently filming the leading role in the new Dylan Thomas movie, The Edge Of Love, is preparing to deal with newfound fame in the UK.
“If it happens then great,” said Rhys, whose best friend is fellow Welshman and Hollywood star Gruffudd. “But I have been doing this [acting] long enough now that if it doesn’t happen then it won’t worry me.”
Brothers & Sisters follows the lives of the California-based Walker family.
When patriarch William Walker dies unexpectedly at a family birthday celebration, the family is forced to face up to reality.
Rhys was a late casting in the role of gay lawyer Kevin after another actor was dropped following the pilot episode.
Rhys was recognised in LA the morning after the first episode was aired. “I was in a coffee shop when a woman came up to me to say how much she’d enjoyed the show,” he said. “It was the first time I’d been recognised in America and it felt strange.
“I probably get stopped now every week by people who want to tell you how much they love the show.”
Rhys believes British people will enjoy Brothers & Sisters as much as the Americans.
“It’s a back-to-basics simple family drama which deals with big issues,” he said.
“There’s no flashy concept involved. It has universal themes – it doesn’t matter how big or small or rich or poor a family is, they deal with the same issues.”
Rhys says he was “very excited” to land the part. “Ioan (Gruffudd) and I had been going out to America for pilot seasons for about eight years and it’s what you wish for – a role in a big well-written, well-cast TV series.”
After 13 months living in LA, Rhys returned to Wales in May to start filming The Edge Of Love. But he will be back in LA, where he rents a bungalow, in July to start filming the second series of Brothers & Sisters.
The first episode of Brothers & Sisters will be broadcast by Channel 4 on June 20 at 8.30pm with the second episode the same night at 10pm. The first episode will be screened by S4C on June 20 at 9.30pm and the second episode will go out on June 27 at 9.30pm.
Matthew Rhys CV
Age: 32
Born: Cardiff.
Studied: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada)
Status: Single
Career highlights: He starred opposite Kathleen Turner in the West End version of The Graduate, played Romeo with the Royal Shakespeare Company and was First Voice in Under Milk Wood. His film roles include Very Annie Mary, The Abduction Club, House Of America and Love and Other Disasters.