Going gray is a natural part of the aging process. According to one 2018 study from the International Journal of Trichology, half of the population will go gray by the age of 50. Some may choose to dye those silver strands, while others will rock the salt-and-pepper look. Matthew Rhys’s beard is proof that going gray at your own pace is as solid a strategy as any.
The 51-year-old actor has been making the press junket rounds in support of his Apple TV banger Widow’s Bay. The show scooped up 19 Emmy nominations, including two for Rhys—one for lead actor and another for producing the series—and as his press tour continues, Rhys has been letting his facial hair grow. The usually clean-shaven Welshman wore a short boxed beard at a weekend appearance at the Television Academy’s Inaugural Televerse Festival, where his primarily gray facial hair contrasted with his natural brown hair, which also had some slight accents of silver.
With his 30 years in acting, Rhys’ gray beard reflects his elder statesman status. He’s earned rave reviews for his performances in shows like The Americans and Perry Mason, the former of which earned him his sole Emmy award, and his breakout in the kooky horror-comedy Widow’s Bay has further established him as an exceptional character actor.
Rhys joins the ranks of other tenured stars who have aged gracefully under the public eye. Earlier this summer when LeBron James announced his record-breaking return to the NBA for the next season, the athlete was seen with a grayer beard than he’d ever had before. The evolution of a beard, especially a gray one that’s as well-groomed as Rhys’ “projects confidence, maturity, and experience rather than simply making someone look older,” master barber Simone Forini at Barberino’s in New York City says.
Season two of Widow’s Bay is already in development, with production expected to happen some time in 2027. That gives even more time for Rhys to grow out a formidable beard suited for the madness his character had to go through. Here’s to hoping he keeps it far, far away from hair dye.
