Matthew Rhys has recalled his "terrifying" experience of auditioning for James Bond where he jokingly suggested giving the iconic character a limp. The Cardiff-born actor, best known for his role in the hit series The Americans, had previously been considered for the role of 007 after Pierce Brosnan's final film as the character in 2002's Die Another Day.
In an interview with The Times, Rhys recalled the audition that saw him lose out on the role - and even suggest giving Bond a limp. Prior to Daniel Craig being cast in the role, he had been called to the offices of the Broccoli family - whose company produces the films - in Piccadilly, London.
Rhys said the offices were "incredible", but "very intimidating", offering views of the park from Eon House. "We were just told to wear a dark suit and read Casino Royale," he told The Times, adding that he found the audition "terrifying."
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The Broccoli representatives were sat with Hyde Park behind them in what Rhys described as a "power move", with a chair for him facing the panel. However, the actor was not prepared for one question the panel threw his way.
"They said, ‘What would you do differently with Bond?’ And I just remember going, ‘Ah.’ I was so not anticipating that question. And then I was like, is it a trick question? Are they waiting for people to go, ‘I wouldn’t do anything. He’s perfect’?," Rhys said. "You can’t say, 'You guys have really screwed this up.'"
Unsure what he wanted to say, Rhys added that he did not want to say: "Oh, it’s been a bit one-note for a few decades, hasn’t it? I think we can drop the misogynistic jokes." Instead, he recalled his attempt at a more light-hearted answer - suggesting that 007 should have a limp.
"I’d give him a limp. I said, ‘Limp?’ Nothing. ‘Eye patch?’ Nothing," he said, with the writer adding that Rhys "mime[d] someone reaching for a lever to open a trapdoor beneath his seat and drop him into a pool of sharks."
Having been raised in Cardiff by parents who spoke Welsh at home, Rhys recalled learning to speak English a a child. He said: "I remember [hearing that] there was this new language. We used to call it ‘yes-no language’, because that’s all I could say for a while. And I was like, 'What is this language? Why are we learning this?'"
Rhys, who is married to actress Keri Russell, also said he speaks to their son Sam in Welsh. The actor, who also lives with Russell's two children from her first marriage, said: "He is going through a slight rebellion where he says, ‘No, Mama language,’ ” Rhys says. “But I know full well he understands."
Among his acting heroes, Rhys lists Sir Anthony Hopkins and recalled the celebrated actor giving him three pieces of advice while making him a coffee on the set of the film Titus. He told The Times: "We’re talking about Wales. And right at the end he went, 'So, here are my three pieces of advice.'
"He goes, 'Don’t be on time. Be early,'" the actor, who was just 24 at the time, recalled. He went on to say that Hopkins' second piece of advice was "'Know your words", adding that it was "an obvious statement" but that Hopkins meant he should know them so well that, "There’s no part of your brain that’s reaching for them." he says. The third piece from Sir Anthony was apparently "Be bold, and greater gods will come to your aid."
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