Saltburn, Emerald Fennell’s darkly comic and voyeuristic exploration of the British aristocracy, is set to be released on Friday, and it promises to have numerous laugh-out-loud moments. Despite the impressive performances of Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant, most of the truly side-splitting moments belong to Paul Rhys. As Duncan, the imperious and terrifying butler, Rhys silently steals scenes from the lead cast as well as the lower-class interloper, each time appearing with hilariously po-faced magnificence.
But Rhys’ comedic brilliance doesn’t stop there. He also plays Talleyrand in Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated biopic “Napoleon”, to be released on November 22nd. Rhys portrays the crafty club-footed diplomat who served as the French commander’s political right-hand man as he swept across Europe (and, later, betrayed him).
For Rhys, the experience of having high-profile Hollywood projects back-to-back is somewhat unusual, given that much of his better known work has been on stage. He earned an Olivier nomination in 1997 for his performance in a production of King Lear, but he is fully embracing his Hollywood achievements. Rhys expresses his enthusiasm for working with both Fennell and Scott, describing them as “bookends of British brilliance”.
Interestingly, the 59-year-old almost had a major break in Hollywood much earlier in his career. Following his performance as Theo Van Gogh in the critically lauded Vincent Van Gogh biopic “Vincent & Theo”, his friend Tim Roth urged him to stay in the U.S. and pursue the attention and opportunities coming their way. However, Rhys considered himself “a theater actor who did film” and he chose to return home to continue his work in theater. His decision to focus on stage eventually led to a successful career, with highlights including playing Hamlet at the Old Vic and winning a Critics Circle award for Measure for Measure.
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Now, more than 30 years after his decision to return home, Rhys finds himself back in Hollywood. His role in “Saltburn” came seemingly as a stroke of fate. After seeing Fennell’s Oscar-winning debut “Promising Young Woman” while on a flight, he came off the plane wondering how he’d ever get to work with her, and a week later, the offer to play Duncan came in. Rhys explains that he lived in the vast stately home where much of “Saltburn” was shot, almost as a form of method acting to truly embody the butler.
Interestingly, Rhys’ understanding of upper-class characters comes from coming from a “very working class background” himself, and he is fine-tuned to playing those from the upper echelons of society, including “Beethoven or Talleyrand or Hamlet or just some toff.” He put this understanding to good use when stepping into the character of Duncan, who he says didn’t arrive fully formed, with Fennell allowing for character development and improvisation to build on her own carefully constructed ideas for him.
Rhys also had the opportunity to work with Ridley Scott on “Napoleon”, and he describes the renowned filmmaker as a “phenomenon” in his 80s with more energy than himself.
After years of focusing on theater, and the missed opportunities in between, Rhys is now intent on capitalizing on his latest major movie moment. He expresses his desire to work with great filmmakers that he loves and hopes that these recent successes lead to more chances to do so. He also hopes that interesting filmmakers will realize he’s available for collaboration.
Rhys’ journey from the theater to Hollywood is a testament to the twists and turns of an actor’s career. His experiences, both on stage and in film, have undoubtedly shaped him into the versatile actor he is today. With his recent successes, it’s clear that Rhys’ talent has earned him a well-deserved place in the spotlight.
