In the Netflix limited series The Beast in Me, Aggie (Claire Danes) is still struggling to return to some sense of normalcy after the death of her young son and having trouble finding motivation to write her latest book. When Nile (Matthew Rhys), a powerful figure in real estate who many believe killed his first wife, moves in next door, Aggie knows this is a story she has to investigate.
Awards Buzz spoke with Rhys about starring in this show and the thriller Hallow Road, and what it is about dark projects and roles that appeals to him:
“To me, they’re wildly interesting, just for the psychology of it. But to perfectly honest, Beast in Me, I don’t get offered these kinds of parts. This was a real shock to me. When I read it, I was like, wait, they want me for Nile? Not the cop? They’re like, yes! So I was like, fuck yes, I will, thank you, please, may I? They’re just wildly interesting. These people are layered and rich and textured and nuanced, and everything you want so I was thrilled to be given that opportunity, if slightly disconcerted as to what they saw somewhere where they thought, he can do that!”
On whether he wanted to try to find things to like about Nile, he expressed:
“I think there’s a great gallows humor to Nile in that, regardless of what he’s done, what he’s endured, the speculation surrounding him and his wife, he’s lived his life wildly scrutinized, and as a result of that, I think a great, almost freedom and brutal honesty emerges from him, which has, to a degree, a real dark humor to it. He’s like, what else can be said that hasn’t been said? So fuck you, world! It allows him the freedom to say some wildly offensive things to Aggie that are incredibly fun.”
Watch the video above to hear his thoughts on a possible second season and the legacy of some of his more notable parts.
The Beast in Me is streaming on Netflix.
