-This is a fantastic film. -Thank you.
-You play --This is based on -- a, reporter actually wrote
a very famous profile of Mr. Rogers.
-He did. -And he's is a bit cynical.
-Yes. -And sort of discovers
a lot about Mr. Rogers over the process.
-Yes. -You grew up in Wales.
Did you have any context for Mr. Rogers?
-No. So, ironically, I'm very cynical
and I knew nothing about Mr. Rogers.
It was perfect casting.
-So you got to take the same journey.
-Yes. I did very little.
-What was it like, the first time?
'Cause, I imagine it must be very jarring
when you're told about Mr. Rogers
and you go back and watch Mr. Rogers.
What was your first reaction? -Well, my first reaction,
I read the script and said to Keri, "Who is Mr. Rogers?"
She's, like "Get out. Get out." [ Laughter ]
And she pointed up. Mr. Rogers's voice, as it will,
is already in our living room 'cause our 2 1/2-year-old
was watching "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood."
So, I was, like, "Oh, right, yeah."
So, then I took a deep dive and I thought something's wrong,
because this gentleman is speaking very slowly
and it seemingly only had one camera
that they would never cut away, and was he forgetting his lines
and then I realized it wasn't for me.
It was for children of a certain age.
Then, I discovered the true genius of "Mr. Rogers."
-Yes, absolutely. They do say,
if you get introduced to Mr. Rogers,
it's better if it happens when you're young.
-Yes, yes. [ Laughter ]
-It's not, like "The Sopranos," where they're like,
"Oh, you got to rewatch it." -Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-"Start from the beginning."
-"Can't come in the middle on 'Mr. Rogers.'"
-No, no. What were your --
What was kids' television like for you, growing up?
-A little strange. -Yeah.
-You know, my first language is Welsh.
So, at that time, when I was growing up,
the Welsh-language station was a fledgling,
was discovering, you know, its identity.
It wasn't quite sure
what children's television should be or wanted to be.
A lot of strange puppets. There were two gentlemen
who kind of would put a jacket over the camera
and then beat each other up. -Okay.
-It was -- It was strange. So I went into acting.
-It's very strange to do children's television
where part of it is they hide themselves
from the children. -And then -- Yes.
And then beat each other up. -Yeah.
-So, that's what we did, as children in Wales.
-Did your -- Is your 3-year-old --
Now, you said he was watching "Daniel Tiger."
Did you start watching "Mr. Rogers" with him, as well?
-Sadly, or not, I think he'll be richer for it,
but he kind of became my Mr. Rogers guinea pig.
So, then I went and put him in front of the show --
the actual show -- back, you know,
the black-and-white version, and it was an incredible moment.
-He went for it? -Oh, he still is.
It's, like, his daily 30-minute meditation.
-Oh, that's fantastic. It is really meditative.
I mean, that's the great thing about Mr. Rogers.
-And also as a parent, I learned far more
from those 30 minutes...
Like, I'm the one behind him, going...
-Yes.
[ Laughter ]
-So we're both learning. -Good.
'Cause, I remember you were terrible at putting on a sweater
last time I saw you, and now from watching
"Mr. Rogers," you just get it on and off, like, right away.
-Oh, like nobody's business. Yeah.
I was -- Listen, as well you know,
I was no stranger to a wool knit sweater.
Six years, I served my time. -That's right.
You -- Tom Hanks obviously plays Mr. Rogers.
And you know, one of the things we all know about Mr. Rogers is
one of the things we all know about Tom Hanks,
which is he's actually as lovely as he seems.
It's kind of crazy, though, right?
-Yes, I'm almost to the point of going,
"When do I start a new rumor, just saying
that I'm gonna take down Hanks?" -Yeah.
Just, like full-time bad guy. -I'll do both.
I'll take down Rogers and Hanks. I'll go, "Listen,
I've discovered two things about them.
You're not gonna like it. Listen to me, America."
-Yeah, "They both have a very dirty, dark secret
that is the same thing, and it's awful."
-Yes. It's to do with a cardigan.
-Do you get... [ Laughter ]
The first time you do a scene with somebody like Tom Hanks,
do you feel like, does it make it harder as an actor,
because you are aware, obviously, as a person,
that it's Tom Hanks. -Well, listen, for me,
not knowing Mr. Rogers, Tom Hanks was my Mr. Rogers.
I grew up with Tom Hanks. So it took me days
of trying to act as if I wasn't nervous
or perversely star-struck
before I could start acting with Tom Hanks.
-Yeah. -So, I was acting,
trying to be calm and trying to stop my head from sweating
in front of Tom Hanks
before I could do anything to do with the film.
So, it was one of the greater acting jobs,
I think, I've ever done. -Well, we all tip our caps.
-Ah, yes. -So, you had done this before.
So, Keri, your costar and partner now in real life,
so, your first two years in "The Americans,"
I have heard it told
that you were doing the same thing with her.
You were not acting to be in the scene.
You were just trying to, like, impress her.
-The very same thing. So, I spent the first two years
on "The Americans" trying to impress Keri.
So I'm quite sure my acting was at its worst.
[ Laughter ] And the same with Tom Hanks.
I wasn't acting to serve the script.
I was trying to impress Tom Hanks.
So, I'm just in this cycle of trying to impress people
and not really serving the script.
[ Laughter ] -That's the key, though.
As long as your -- As long as your shows
run enough seasons,
we eventually get to see you, the actor.
-Eventually, if you give me the real estate,
I'll get there. [ Laughter ]
I just need a solid three years. [ Laughter ]
-I have not seen you since "The Americans" ended --
a show, I've told you before, I love so much.
It must be wonderful to have left a thing
in very, just a pristine ending of a show
that I think is going to endure for years.
Does it feel great? -Incredible.
And you know, we were all very well.
We'd had this incredible five years.
We were all very worried as to how -- what would happen.
And you know, in all fairness to the writers,
they ended it beautifully and perfectly.
I don't think-- I don't feel we wrung the towel dry.
We kind of left it on the right note.
-It was great. Keri and you --
you have a 3-year-old,
and this is very exciting for a 3-year-old.
She's is going to be in the new "Star Wars" film.
-Yes, as soon as he grasps that concept.
-Yes. -Yeah.
-Because all you have right now to show him
is her outfit in the film. -Yes.
-So, this has been released. -That's been released.
Well, what actually happened is,
I don't even know who the toymaker is,
but they very kindly sent the bobblehead to our house.
-Sure, that's a nice thing to do.
-Yes, so, obviously, it's not very well-proportioned.
The head is giant. it's a bobblehead.
And he opened it with Keri.
Keri tried to explain what this bobblehead was.
And then she -- I came home and he ran up to me
with the bobblehead and said, "Mom's inside."
[ Laughter ]
I went, "Good. Keep her there."
[ Laughter ] "It'll be our secret."
-There you go. -"Don't let her out."
-"Don't let her out." Every now and then,
Mom needs to be in the bobblehead.
-Yes, yes.
-Thank you so much for being here.
it's always such a pleasure to see you.
Congrats on the film. Matthew Rhys everybody.