"RE-RELEASE: Matthew Rhys"

The Smartless Podcast and a Wig Maker's Woes [0:00]

• The hosts begin by discussing their upcoming TV show, "Smartless on the Road," airing on Max.
• They excitedly list the show's impressive guest lineup, including Will Ferrell, Conan O'Brien, Kevin Hart, David Letterman, AOC, Bradley Cooper, Andy Richter, Jeff Tweedy, Mark Cuban, Matt Damon, and Jimmy Kimmel.
• The episode also features appearances by Sean's sister, Tracy, and their mother.
• They mention a meal of Sloppy Joes prepared by Shawnee.

  "On Max, Smartless, on the road. Check it out."

A Surprising Connection to Jane Mansfield [2:00]

• The conversation shifts to a story involving Mariska Hargitay, star of "Law & Order: SVU."
• Rhys recounts meeting Hargitay outside a theater and discovering her mother was the iconic 1950s star Jane Mansfield.
• He realizes they reference Mansfield frequently in a show set in 1958, featuring Oscar Levant.
• Hargitay's mother made her Broadway debut in the same theater where Rhys was working.

  "Whoa, Mariska Hargitay's mom? I go, your mom is Jane Mansfield."

A Fond Farewell to a Dear Friend [4:00]

• The mood shifts as one of the hosts shares the news of his oldest friend, Jeremy, passing away.
• He expresses deep love and sorrow, noting that Jeremy passed away suddenly after a period of pain.
• The host reflects on the universality of death and the importance of cherishing loved ones.
• He shares a message of love and remembrance for Jeremy.

  "And I just wanted to say that I just, I love the guy so much."

Matthew Rhys: The Welshman Arrives [7:00]

• The podcast introduces their guest, Welsh actor Matthew Rhys.
• They praise his talent, looks, and versatility, noting his work on "Brothers & Sisters" and "The Americans."
• Rhys's partnership with Kerry Washington is highlighted.
• Rhys playfully addresses his mustache, joking about a Tom Selleck biopic.

  "Guys, it's the incredibly talented Matthew Rhys."

"The Americans" and Cocaine Bear Cameos [10:00]

• Rhys discusses his acclaimed role in "The Americans," which ran for six seasons.
• He mentions his "Americans" co-star Margot Martindale, whom they all adore.
• Rhys recounts how he "muscled his way" into a small role in the movie "Cocaine Bear," asking Elizabeth Banks if he could play the character falling out of the plane.

  "I said, ask Banks, who's playing that part? So she texts Banks. Oh, we haven't cast it yet. And I said, tell her I'll do it."

The Nuances of the Welsh Language [14:00]

• The hosts express surprise and curiosity about Welsh being Rhys's first language.
• Rhys explains that Welsh is an ancient language, predating English.
• He shares a snippet of an old Welsh poem, noting its connection to the language used for elves in "Lord of the Rings."
• The historical suppression of Celtic languages by the English is briefly discussed.

  "It's not English. It's much older than English. Yeah. It's one of the oldest in Europe."

Cardiff, Cars, and Welsh Pride [17:00]

• Rhys confirms he is from Cardiff and discusses his connection to the area.
• He recounts a story about being loaned a Bentley and driving it around London, much to the amusement of his friends.
• The hosts touch on the immense pride Welsh people have in their successful countrymen, like Rhys, Gareth Bale, and Anthony Hopkins.

  "And all the Welsh are so proud of Matthew. For what you've done."

The Performing Arts Tradition in Wales [20:00]

• Rhys explains the strong tradition of performing arts in Wales, dating back to pre-Christian times.
• He describes the Eisteddfod, a modern competition where children are encouraged to perform from a young age.
• This tradition, he suggests, helps foster a natural inclination towards acting and performing.

  "So from a very early age, you're kind of kicked onto a stage, whether you want to."

RADA and the Pressure to Succeed [22:00]

• Rhys details his time at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, a prestigious acting school.
• He mentions the intense pressure and exclusivity of RADA, with only 30 students admitted each year.
• He notes that Michael Sheen had paved the way for Welsh actors at RADA.

  "It's a very small intake. There's only 30 to each year, 15, 15 men, 15 women."

A Stage Mishap with Kathleen Turner [25:00]

• Rhys shares a memorable and embarrassing story from his time performing in "The Graduate" with Kathleen Turner.
• During a scene simulating intimacy, Rhys, suffering from a severe head cold, accidentally inhaled deeply while between Turner's legs, causing a rather undignified moment.
• He expresses deep regret over not stopping the production when a paparazzi photo was taken of the incident.

  "And I just went, and inhaled deeply. And the covers kind of shot up. And she's looking down and we're like, what the fuck?"

From "The Americans" to Hollywood Stardom [29:00]

• Rhys discusses his move to America and his initial struggles after a promising start.
• He landed a role in "Titus" with Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange but then faced a decade without significant work.
• He reflects on the unpredictable nature of the acting profession.

  "And then I did that. And I shot that in Rome for six months. And then I went back to LA and didn't get a job for a decade."

The "Smartless" Phenomenon [31:00]

• The hosts discuss the unexpected success of "Smartless," particularly during the pandemic.
• They note that the podcast, born from casual conversations, became more popular than their traditional acting work.
• Rhys jokes about the hosts' "idiotic thoughts on stupid shit" being what people tune in for.

  "The world basically was saying, we don't want you guys to do the thing that you think that you're good at."

Meeting Keri Russell and a Home Invasion [34:00]

• Rhys recounts meeting Keri Russell at a kickball party hosted by Jennifer Grey.
• He admits to leaving a drunken message on her answering machine.
• Their relationship developed slowly during the filming of "The Americans."
• He shares a dramatic story about a home invasion where he, in a moment of panic and misguided chivalry, confronted the intruders without any clothes on, while Russell hid in the bathroom.

  "And for some stupid reason, because it were very early days, I thought what I do next. Right. She will judge me on for the rest of our lives."

The Perry Mason Reboot and an Achilles' Heel [40:00]

• Rhys discusses his involvement in the "Perry Mason" reboot, initially hesitant due to the character's iconic status.
• He praises the production team, including Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey, and director Tim Van Patten.
• His self-professed "Achilles' heel" is the word "murderer," which he finds difficult to pronounce and wishes could be replaced with "killer."

  "And I said, is there any chance we can change like murderer to killer?"

Raising a Family Amidst Career Demands [46:00]

• Rhys and the podcast hosts discuss the challenges of balancing demanding careers with family life.
• They talk about the difficulty of maintaining a rule where one parent works while the other stays home with the children.
• Rhys emphasizes the resilience of children and his own upbringing with a mother who traveled frequently for work.

  "And you have to be flexible and allow yourself to, you know, that, that there are going to be moments where it's just pure chaos."

Fashion, Uniforms, and the School Run [50:00]

• Rhys describes his minimalist and practical approach to fashion, often wearing the same black t-shirts and Carhartt workwear.
• He recounts an awkward encounter with another parent at school pickup who questioned his attire.
• The hosts joke about their own public personas and the assumptions people make about their style.

  "And then Kerry's like, you've, you've got to change for the school run. You've worn the same thing for, for it's now, it's now months."

A Quick Visit from Keri Russell [57:00]

• Keri Russell makes a brief, unannounced appearance via video call.
• Although unable to hear her, the hosts are delighted to see her.
• They express their admiration for her and promise to have her on the podcast.

  "You were fantastic. Thank you."