Interview with "Brothers & Sisters" Matthew Rhys

Brothers & Sisters, the ABC drama that airs Sundays nights following Desperate Housewives, features what may be the most substantial recurring gay character ever on network television. That character is Kevin Walker, and he's played, brilliantly, by a Welsh actor named Matthew Rhys (pronounced “Reese”).

Rhys is already a well-known face in the United Kingdom, but he may be less familiar to American audiences. The success of Brothers & Sisters, however, and his integral role on the show is sure to change all that. Though he is surrounded by a stellar ensemble cast of more readily recognizable television stars (among them Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths and Rob Lowe), Rhys more than holds his own. In fact, among fans of the show, Rhys' character, Kevin, has emerged as one of the show's most popular characters. We recently sat down with Rhys to talk about his role on Brothers & Sisters.

AfterElton.com: We're big fans of Brothers & Sisters and big fans of you as well. First off, congratulations on the success of the show. I heard you guys got two extra episodes. Any word yet on next year?
Matthew Rhys: As an actor, we're one of the last to know anyway, so no. I think the two extra episodes are a good sign though. We're all just crossing fingers, really.

AE: Gotcha. How does a Welsh actor wind up on an American television show?
MR: What has happened over many years is there's quite a large group of British actors, and we all come out for pilot season in January, February and March because it's the sort of quiet time at home. So we all trek out to L.A. and then start looking for work, and if we don't get something, then we go home again. I've been doing that for eight years now, on and off, in sort of various degrees of success, but this is the first series that was picked up.

AE: Had you come in to read for the part before Jonathan LaPaglia's departure [LaPaglia played Kevin in the original pilot] or did you come in after that?
MR: I came in after. Actually, this year I was late for pilot season, and my manager said, “Well, come over anyway and let's see what's out there.” It was all a matter of beautiful timing. When I did come over, they were recasting. I'm very lucky, really.

AE: From my perspective, Brothers & Sisters seems to be the only American network television show right now with a gay character of any significant depth. It's kind of amazing what you guys have been able to do. Does it surprise you that your character is such a standout on American television these days?
MR: Um, in a way, yes. Because that particular comment I've heard a couple of times, and it has made me think that in this day and age you would expect a higher degree of exposure for gay characters.

AE: I'd heard that Brothers & Sisters is going to be airing on Channel 4 in the U.K.
MR: Yes.

AE: How do you think it's going to be received over there? Do you think the show is more in line with European expectations of a show? Do you think the show will make as big a splash over there as it seems to be having here?
MR: I think so. The American shows that Channel 4 generally picks up have a good track record of doing well. And I think it has all the sort of qualities that British audiences enjoy and look forward to in an American series. It has a fantastic cast — the ensemble acting group is fantastic — but primarily the writing is so sound. It is challenging, and it's entertaining. And it sort of covers all those bases you want and you need, really.

AE: Do you think that having [executive producers] Jon Robin Baitz and Greg Berlanti there as two openly gay men — do you think that's helped the writing for your character?
MR: Absolutely! Robbie [Baitz] says that often he finds it very easy to write for Kevin as opposed to other characters. And Robbie was adamant from the start that he didn't want any whiff of stereotype or anything like that. Not to make [Kevin] any exception to anyone else in any way. Just an absolutely normal part of the family.

AE: Kevin, for me, seems to be a very successful gay representation because he's a very three-dimensional character. He's not a stereotype.
MR: Yes.