interview with rhys eckharte
Rhys Eckharte may not be in Louisville anymore. Despite the fact that he was born in the Kentucky city - in a hotel room, nonetheless - Rhys doesn't have an accent. He speaks eloquently enough that he can easily slip in and out of any accent and any tone that you'd like him to have; he supposes it's what makes him a good actor. "Or, a really nice date," He laughs. Rhys' career is almost as well known as his ability to date more women than most people can handle at a time, and while it's not something he'd like to be known as, he admits that it's nice to be acknowledged.
But somehow, Rhys is more than just a womanizing actor taking after is father. He started off in teen romance movies, and moved into indie films before hitting it big on TV with Showtime's huge hit "Dexter". Rhys plays the title character, dealing with fitting into normal society and dealing with certain...urges that he has. Rhys makes even the most dastardly serial killer seem lovable, and it is something only an Eckharte can truely do. We sat down with Rhys on the set of his latest film Burn After Reading for a quick Q and A about life, love and career.
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Q. You started on a soap opera. Do you still watch it?
Rhys Eckharte: I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I actually have time to keep track of that. I still visit the set some times though, since my dad (actor Victor Eckharte) is still on [The Young and The Restless], but no, I don't watch it anymore. But I do watch my old tapes, especially the scenes with my dad, who oddly enough was playing my older brother on the show. There is a bit of the father/son relationship that shines through those scenes that we just couldn't hide.
Q. Favorite film you've worked on?
Rhys Eckharte I can't pick favorites. Each movie is different to me, each cast is different, each director is different. I think the set I learned the most on was Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, just because the other actors were so brilliant, and it was my first film that wasn't a teen movie, so I wanted to make sure I could take everything in. When you see the chance to learn from your peers, do it. I have yet to regret it.
Q. Your past relationships seem to be big in the tabloids. Thoughts?
Rhys Eckharte: Honestly, I don't think about it all that much. What's to think about? People are fasinated with celebrity and everything about it. I think it comes with the territory. And I have dated a lot of women, I'm not going to hide behind that. What's the point? You love, you live, you move on to the next until you find that one person. And because you're a celebrity - the general you of course - your relationship, your search for the next best thing will be showcased. It happens. People want the lives of those who they feel are better off than them. I'm not better off than you. Believe me.
Q. Have you ever given thought to just settling down with one person?
Rhys Eckharte: Have I? Of course I have. There was this one girl I had fallen for, and we were together for years - no one you know, so don't get your panties in a twist. We were together for the latter of 3 years, and eventually, something in my head clicked. It said, "Instead of settling, see what else is out there." It's terrible, but it's the truth. I still love her, part of me always will. And I will always want what's best for her, I want her to be happy. I guess somewhere I just felt she wouldn't be happy with me, so I took the highroad. Though I suppose it wasn't the best road to take at the time.
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Q. Who in the business are you dying to work with?
Rhys Eckharte: So many different people. Quentin Tarentino, George Clooney, I'd love to tap into the brain of Jack Nicholson some day. Just to sit in the same room with him and just ask him how he does it. I believe he's one of the best actors of our time. But there is also this part of me that wishes I took another career, you know? There are so many others I'd love to talk to.
Q. So, then if you had to pick another career, what would it be?
Rhys Eckharte I'd be a writer. I'm a huge fan of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, the beats from the 1950's. I would also love to be able to write a pop-culture manifesto like Chuck Klosterman has been able to do, and to make a success out of it. I admire those who can write, because I feel it's one of the things I fail at, no matter how much I try it. Some people are more creative than others, and I would have loved to be gifted with the written word. Guess I'm just stuck looking pretty and playing writers. [Laughs]
Q. What made you want to take on the role of Dexter Morgan?
Rhys Eckharte: I had actually been a fan of the book, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, that the show is based off of, thought admittedly the show is completely different from the book. Dexter is such a complex character, he can manipulate almost any situation to his liking, and he lives by this one code that his father taught him. Having a code is something that I admire, though my own personal code is nothing like Dexter's...certainly I'd never take the law into my own hands, but that's why I'm playing this character. Everyone is amazing to work with really, I'm excited to get back to the next season. With Dexter now married, and a soon to be father, things will be changing across all boards.
Q. So you're not going to give us any hints about what happens next season?
Rhys Eckharte: Ok fine, one hint. There is this person, and Dexter kills them. How's that? [Laughs]
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