We’re still getting to know “The Americans,” Philip and Elizabeth Jennings; both of whom are KGB agents posing as the all American family in the ‘80s.
Matthew Rhys plays Philip, who likes America a little too much and he even considered defecting, much to the displeasure of his wife, Elizabeth (Keri Russell) who believes in Mother Russia above all else. Philip and Elizabeth were starting to come together as a real couple when they were given reasons to distrust their own government… and each other while attempting to maintain their cover.
CraveOnline caught up with Rhys at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour after FX’s panel for “The Americans.” And Rhys gave us the briefing on Philip ’s M.O.
CraveOnline: At the beginning of the show, Philip was already enamored with America. So where does this go for him?
Matthew Rhys: It’s quite a journey for him. I think coupled with the fact that the great driving motivation for him is the safety and security of his family, and I think that’s what he’s driving towards. I think there’s sort of elements of materialism that he enjoys, a byproduct of what he ultimately wants which is to make sure his family’s safe.
The research I did for Philip , one of those reasons was I researched what Russia would have been like for him growing up as a child which was, coming out of the Second World War, incredibly bleak and a difficult period. So I think if you compare the two, it’s understandable why he enjoys a good car and cowboy boots.
Sure, but could it be that in the course of the series he gets back in line with the KGB allegiances?
Rhys: Quite possibly. The conflict within this show is fantastic and one of the reasons is he all of a sudden discovers, after 15 years of forced marriage, real emotions for his wife. As a result of that, and having laid his cards about where his political leanings lie, he then has to come up with a new game plan as to how to bring her with him because she’s so hardlined.
Why did it take 15 years for them to develop feelings?
Rhys: I don’t know. I don’t know. You know, they’ve been very busy. Very, very busy. I don’t know, there were a number of elements. They wanted relatively mature children, but they wanted for us to find them at a transient time in their lives with this incredible change, and for the first time this is the warmest he’s been in 15 years.
Do you ever think about the similarities to “Homeland?”
Rhys: Yeah, I’m texting Damian going, “Bastard. You got there first, you bastard.” Yeah, there are similarities. We’ve been already compared in some of the trades already which worries me because it’s an incredible show and you can understand why the similarities are being drawn, but I do think… you’ll see there’s a difference in the concepts and the families that I hope will steer it in a different direction from “Homeland.”
CraveOnline: Your character won’t be so ambiguous though. We already know where he stands, right?
Rhys: Yes, and for the first time, although they’ve been lying for 15 years, when you first meet them, the truth is sort of coming out for the first time. I think it’s liberating, having lived your life so long, I think it’s liberating for him to go, “Actually, this is what I want and this is how I feel.” They’re duplicitous with everyone else, but not each other.
Did you ever watch “Felicity?”
Rhys: I didn’t, but I heard it was wonderful and her hair was wonderful in it.
Do you understand the obsession with the hair?
Rhys: I do. I remember at a time, we were coming, a lot of Brits were coming to L.A. from a very early age and we actually met many years ago. I remember thinking, “Oh, that’s that girl from that show.” I remember, we recounted it the other day. I’d totally forgotten about it so we were aware of who she was.
Was it an audition?
Rhys: No, we were at a kickball game. We were talking about people we knew and blah blah blah, and I said, “Oh, I knew her.” She said, “Oh, we used to play kickball.” I was like, “I was there that day. And Jennifer Grey was there.” “Yeah, I was there that day.” “Oh my God, we met.” We’d completely forgotten.
You played kickball with Jennifer Grey too?
Rhys: I don’t know if she played. She was definitely there.
