Matthew Rhys Auditioned To Play James Bond | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

I heard I don't know if it's true that. uh that you auditioned and I was. delighted when I heard it um number of. years ago for James Bond the the and and. the role went to Daniel Craig as we all. know but I think you'd be terrific I. really do I really do think you'd be. terrific thank you I told so many people. I would be I practically told my family. I was going to be right which was which. was always that did you uh when you. walked out of the uh rehearsal did you I. mean out of the audition did you see.

Daniel Craig sitting there with his. sides and go good good luck good luck. yes good luck DC yes I was no no it it. was one of those moments where it was it. was true that you they were floating. this idea that that the the next James. Bond would be plucked at an early age. out of the Naval Academy yeah and they. had all these great ideas like that that. Bond himself kind of like you know was. going to pick the next candidate to fill. the role of7 right so everyone was like. oh my God this could this could be true. we're at the right age this is going to. be amazing uh and and this this I think.

we were a relatively large group of kind. of young white men who were invited to. read cin Royale put on a a nice dark. suit and go to the broli office which. which it which was a sight to behold the. office itself that looks out over it um. green par uh Green Park I think in. London was just was just unbelievable I. mean this is the family that's been. producing the film since Dr no yes yeah. since the first one yes so it was it was. terrifying in itself that you walked in. there was a number of fa in that little.

anti- chamber that you knew who very. successful and you're like oh oh. God and then we all sat there sweating. and making terrible small talk and then. you're invited in um and this they're. all behind this enormous desk and. there's so much memorability around that. you want to start talking about in. fanning out sure yeah uh and you're. trying to trying to remain kind of very. serious and sve at the same time you're. trying to be I know Bond Channel Bond oh. God it's so it's just so depressing when. you look back it and so what are they.

did they uh how did you think the. audition went well I'm not playing. Bond nor have I I thought well maybe it. was a close call between you no. obviously in my mind it was you know I. kept telling everyone was between me and. Daniel Craig they're like it's not he's. been off of the part stop saying that um. he's made three of them yes I know but I. still think I've got a. chance yeah um they're just using him to. get my price down yes they he think of.

him as a warm-up so they um they. basically said have you read Casino. Royal and said yes and then they just. said a question I hadn't anticipated for. the for love and of money they went so. what would you do different with Bond. and then I was like oh I was like. is this so what kind is this the trick. question or is it a genuine question and. I and as a terrible joke I said. [Music]. limp and it went and and.

ex except except it got worse cuz it was. a quiet went very quiet so then I. thought I would double down and said ey. patch and then and then and then and. then I just and then I just fell apart. and it lasted about 30 seconds after. that I love uh bond with not just a. little limp but a decided aggressive. limp yes and a lot of uh I'll get you. someone help me. out yes I did want to say I was like. look Roger Moore had a running double in.

View to a Kill it's not out of the. question yeah also to think of the. comedic elements they were like did you. get that from you know missions he's. like no I had polio and rickets as a. child the Navy are very. accommodating so I didn't need enough. fresh fruit a child yes so so yeah it. was very it was very brief after that. there was a quick kind of a to yes yes. well thank you so much for coming in. you're like oh that was my bond moment. that was your bond moment yeah yeah uh. and I think of that often but then I.

still think of the question I go. what I as you can tell I don't I still. don't have a a coherent answer that. would have wowed them I often wonder. what Daniel Craig said to that question. what would you have said to that. question I would have said uh that's a. you know what if what if he's very. claustrophobic uh does he has little he. has little ticks you know so he doesn't. take elevators he only takes stairs St. that's good uh doesn't like the oh how. about a bond that doesn't like to.

fly and so there you know the way cuz. most of those movies are um he's hopping. from he's in London obviously but then. suddenly he's in Sam you know samitz but. then he's in uh you know he's on the. Ivory Coast he's all over the place a. bond who needs to it's in his contract I. don't fly yeah that's good so it's long. boat rides yes yes or trains trains. trains and then boats yes so you're. always cutting them in travel exhausted. yeah and is always saying well is Bon.

there well no let's see where he is now. he's yeah bril see brilliant you can see. that I can see that yes I could have. yeah been uh I know yeah think of the. film career I'd have had yeah with. talent and a completely different. face imagine how close I got I I won't I. won't yes you will oh tonight as you try. and fall asleep yes it'll the only thing. you'll be thinking it'll haunt me car. will say why are you twisting and.

turning in the bed yes cuz I have a. problem with the. Pope is that what you're calling it now. yes is that the euphemism for it now yes. it is I have a problem with the Pope yes.