Rhys Wakefield wears archive **ANN DEMEULEMEESTER** shirt available at [Replika Vintage.](https://www.instagram.com/replika_vintage/?hl=en)
[Rhys Wakefield](https://www.instagram.com/rhys_wakefield/) brings a nuanced performance as Matty on Hulu drama, _Reprisal._ Wakefield’s montage of characters celebrate gleams of horror vis-a-vis his permanently-etched smiling figure in _The Purge_ to the blood-drenched trail that thematically follows him around in _Reprisal_.
Wakefield integrates his coherent sense of ingrained love of film-making by procuring his own script and signature direction. His directorial debut, _BERSERK_, was an effervescent, neon-drenched tale about screenwriters lost in a chase for fear starring Wakefield himself, Nick Cannon, and Nora Arnezeder. In fourteen days, Wakefield was able to bring his vision that emerged from a horrifyingly-daunting real experience into a physical work of art.
Reigning from Australia, Wakefield illustrated his native sun-drenched marvel throughout _BERSERK_. In terms of his directorial style, Wakefield is clearly drawn to the likes of mystery storytelling he learned from a horror-versed education with a sprinkle of Scorsese inventiveness.
Rhys Wakefield wears archive **YVES SAINT LAURENT BY STEFANO PILATI** leather top available at [Replika Vintage.](https://www.instagram.com/replika_vintage/?hl=en)
**What was it like when you got the call that you landed the gig on _REPRISAL_?**
I was so invested in the script and character I couldn’t imagine not playing him. It was a huge relief, if I’m honest!
**What is the most rewarding part of being on this show for you?**
I love the female revenge element of the show. Abigail Spencer’s character Doris has been mistreated and misunderstood her entire life – but NOW she gets to change that narrative for herself. That certainly feels like a relevant and timely story to me. The glue with all of these characters is that they’ve all been underestimated, in one way or another… and we get to see how that has corroded each of them in a unique way. My character is about ready to explode when we first meet him but over the course of the series he becomes cognizant of his own bubbling revenge plot.
**You work with such talented people like Abigail Spencer, Rodrigo Santora, and Mena Messoud, what’s that like?**
Abigail, Rodrigo and Mena are excellent – the entire cast deliver such nuanced and impressive performances across the board. I feel lucky to be working with them – they make me better.
Rhys Wakefield wears archive **GUCCI BY TOM FORD** turtleneck and **MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA** pants available at [Replika Vintage.](https://www.instagram.com/replika_vintage/?hl=en)
**TVLine named you one of their “Fall TV Breakout stars. How did it feel to receive such a title?**
It was a lovely surprise! I’m very grateful to TVLine for the love. I really hadn’t anticipated any recognition – I guess I’ve been focused on the project and role for so long I almost forgot it was a TV show people would actually be able to see one day. Which sounds stupid – but these things feel so private until suddenly they’re not and were never meant to be.
**How different is filming a show to filming movies, as you have in the past?**
I’d say the pace you shoot at is the biggest difference. A film tends to shoot around 3 pages a day whereas whilst I worked on a soap in Australia we were shooting about 30 pages a day. TV has equalized now though and the scheduling is generally closer to that of a movie shoot. Josh Corbin created such a unique, intricate world with _Reprisal_ – to make it as a movie would be a disservice the story. I love how TV lets you explore so many more angles of a character or world. It lets you take more risks.
**What is your favorite genre to act in?**
I sincerely enjoy exploring different genres and tone. It’s a fun challenge. I’m not sure I have a ‘favorite genre’ yet.
Rhys Wakefield wears archive **JIL SANDER** top available at Replika Vintage.
**I saw that you have a directorial debut with your film BERSERK where you wrote and starred in the film. What was that entire process and role like in comparison to solely acting in a film or show?**
I loved directing and producing _BERSERK_. The film stars Nick Cannon, James Roday and Nora Arnezeder and was filmed in the hills of Beverly Hills. I also acted in it, but only as a means to save money! The process was entirely different from solely acting in a project – acting is wonderful and puts you in the mind of someone you might not otherwise find yourself in the mind of but it’s a very private process, ironically. Directing is much more public and team oriented – I love the collaborative nature of it, how it forces you to find a solution to a problem as quickly as possible with the limited time or resources available to you. My cast and crew were so impressive – we shot a significant amount of pages in a significantly short period of time – and for that I’m especially proud. I’m currently in pre production on a podcast series I created with Qcode and William Day Frank, which I’ll direct. I don’t think I’ll act in something I direct again. That was a lot on _BERSERK_. I’m excited to apply lessons learned from both projects on the set of the next film I’m directing, which shoots later this year and will be produced by Jason Berman.
**What is a funny moment you can remember from a set you’ve been on? Have you had a lot of fan encounters out here in LA, if so, what was one of your favorites?**
I mostly get recognized in LA for my role in _THE PURGE_ and _TRUE DETECTIVE_ – it’s funny to be remembered as scary to someone until they make the connection… I do think that’s quite novel. I’ve started to get recognized for _BERSERK_ now which makes me so proud that the movie is finding its audience.
Rhys Wakefield
**What’s your favorite kind of music? Who are some artists you’re loving right now?**
Pink Floyd 100%. Right now I’m listening to Nils Frahm, Kate Tempest and Talking Heads.
**So I know you’re an Australian native, what is it like being in LA? Do you miss home?**
I’ve lived in LA for about 10 years now. I miss home a lot. I love Australia and go back at least once a year. I just got back from Sydney, in fact. It hurts to see imagery of your home country burning like it is right now, due to the fires. To see friends and family lose their homes and the unprecedented devastation it’s causing to the wildlife + environment is terrifying. It should stand to remind us that we are a global society. Environmental issues like this are shared by the globe, not a nation.
**Do you love LA? What is your favorite part/thing about LA?**
Yes, and I’ve enjoyed seeing LA change over the past decade. It’s become slightly more walkable, businesses have diversified and the coffee culture has proliferated, which feels very Australian to me. The city has so many creative minds buzzing about, ready to funnel their expression – there’s certainly something unique to that, both good and bad.
**Have you been involved with raising awareness for the fires?**
I’ve donated to the [Australian Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org.au) and [Wires Australian Wildlife Rescue Organization](https://www.wires.org.au). Anything and everything counts.
**What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not filming and why?**
I love to write whenever I’m not filming. If I’m not writing I’m playing Xbox, traveling, or at the beach.
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Photographed by [Logan Delaney](http://instagram.com/LoganmDelaney)
Styled by [Kieley Kimmel](https://www.kieleykimmelstudio.com).
Grooming: [Sonia Lee](https://www.instagram.com/sonialeeartistry/?hl=en) using [Kevin Murphy](https://kevinmurphy.com.au) at [Exclusive Artists](https://www.eamgmt.com).
Photo Assistant: [Collin Hughart](https://www.instagram.com/collinhughart/?hl=en).
Produced by: [BJ Panda Bear](https://www.instagram.com/bjpandabear/?hl=en).
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