Werewolf, Lizard Man, Mermaid, Gay Pirate – that’s Rhys Darby! The Legend Returns marks his standup comeback, and I got to interview the man!
It’s been nearly a decade since you last toured your live standup.
Rhys Darby: Yes, it has been a while. For the past decade, I’ve been concentrating on film and television acting, which all began as a stand-up comedy adventure. It was all about taking on the world and seeing how I could contribute with my wayward New Zealand sense of humour. I enjoyed touring as a younger man, but once I got to Hollywood and into the TV roles, I was happy to stay put.
What brought about your new tour, The Legend Returns?
Two years ago, I did hit the stage again with my ‘25 years’ show, which was the best of my work. Thanks to Our Flag Means Death, I’ve now got a broader spectrum of audience members, including young people who might not have seen me before and boy, have they taken an interest in my work – everything I’ve done! So, I wanted to say, “Hey, let’s get out there and show you guys what my stand-up is like”, and they came in their throes. It was fantastic and I realised I’ve still got it. So, I put this tour together.
Rhys Darby Photo credit Robyn Von Swank
What can we expect from the show?
It’s new material but with the same vibe. I tell stories and act out various characters. It’s quite theatrical. A lot of people are scared of stand-up. They think it’s a guy behind a microphone spitting about politics, but I couldn’t be more opposite. My show is silly physical comedy and I use my vocal range to embody sound effects and movement. It’s a performance, and it’s uplifting. The story is about humanity dealing with artificial intelligence and questions, “Where are we going?” It’s a trek we didn’t sign up for, but we’re on it, and it’s moving fast. I don’t want to lose the joy of what it means to be human. I feel that it’s slowly being taken from us. My show is a journey about that and a celebration of being human. I hope that one day, robots cannot do what I do on stage!
“It wasn’t like, “Oh, this guy’s gay or this person is non-binary”. They just were – and no one cared.”
You’ve established an impressive list of acting credits – The Flight of the Conchords, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Night Court, The X Files, Hot in Cleveland, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, Jumanji. Is there one memorable experience that stands out from the others?
Luckily and weirdly, at the beginning of my career, I got to work with Jim Carrey in Yes Man. It was the first movie I ever did, and being into comedy, he was an inspirational hero to me. Working with the best straightaway throws you in the deep end, and I was like, “Wow! I can take on anything now”. The next movie I did was The Boat That Rocked directed by Richard Curtis and starred Philip Seymour Hoffman – rest in peace. So, I got to work with amazing craftspeople right from those early days. Believe me, I’m still pinching myself every time I get something new. I wonder how that little boy from Pakuranga, New Zealand gets to do this! It feels like I’ve won some sort of competition and those early days of falling in the deep end with those big names meant I’ve had to pull my britches up and prove myself worthy!
Rhys Darby Photo credit Robyn Von Swank
You’ve even been on The Simpsons.
Yes, and even with The Simpsons, I was like, “Really? You want me?” I do know I’ve got the voice and a weird vibe about me that’s fun for cartoons. I’ve done a lot of animation and voice work, but I guess one role that stands out would be The X-Files. Being into the paranormal myself, I couldn’t believe I got a part on that show. It was so perfect playing a lizard man who becomes human. It felt like it was written for me.
Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet on Our Flag Means Death
You also played the werewolf ‘Anton’ in What We Do in The Shadows – that’s a werewolf, not a ‘swear-wolf’!
(Laughs) Yeah, that was fun. I do a lot of work with Taika Waititi, who’s a friend of mine. He and Jemaine Clement wrote, directed and starred in that film, which was all improvised. There was a script, but we weren’t allowed to look at it. It was a collection of the right actors who could improvise and work well together, and that ‘swear wolves’ scene was filmed late in the evening on the Wellington viaduct. We were told, “You guys are the werewolf gang, the others are the vampire gang, and you’re going to meet in the middle like a West Side Story situation. Let’s see what goes down”.
Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet with Taika Waititi as Captain Blackbeard on Our Flag Means Death
Our Flag Means Death is a gay favourite. You once said that playing Stede Bonnet was one of the most challenging and complex of your career.
“The beautiful love representation in the show, which we didn’t throw down people’s throats, made it so wonderful for people, especially the queer community.”
It was complex because Stede is not a two-dimensional comedy character. This guy has a deep and meaningful background that brought him to where he is on this ridiculous adventure. In more ways than one, it’s not just about him finding himself, but also finding what love truly is. I knew there would be pirate ships, and I got excited about the dress-ups, but I also knew I was playing someone from history. I read about the character to find as much as I could out about his life, and I even did a sailing course to make sure I knew how to sail – even though he didn’t. I needed to know how to be out on the boat so that I knew how to ‘not be out on the boat’ if you get my drift. Once we got into it, I knew there was going to be a relationship between Blackbeard and Stede. It wasn’t divulged just how deep it would go.
Rhys Darby as Murray Hewitt in Flight of the Conchords
So how did you prepare?
I read up on what really happened and then threw all that out because even that is just rumour and hearsay. There isn’t a hell of a lot written down about what went on, on those ships back then – but there were certainly a lot of men! (Laughs). But I was elegantly shoved into some beautiful garments, and once I put those heeled shoes on, which were made for me in London, I was like, “Wow, okay, the budget’s big and now I also feel like Steed. I know who Steed is!” He loved the fabrics. Once I was looking like him with my hair done so amazingly, and wearing the outfits, I was strolling around the ship like I owned it, and of course he did!
Rhys Darby
It’s quite amazing how historically, he was a wealthy landowner who decided to buy a vessel and become a pirate on the high seas.
He decided to put his money where his mouth was and create this world, which even included a library on the ship. It was relevant for me to know what Stede was like, and what I got was how he made a major decision, a midlife crisis if you will, but a great decision in his life. It doesn’t matter what age you are, at some point you get the balls to say, “I’m going to now be my true self”. I think that, along with the beautiful love representation in the show, which we didn’t throw down people’s throats, made it so wonderful for people, especially the queer community. It unfolded organically. It wasn’t like, “Oh, this guy’s gay or this person is non-binary”. They just were – and no one cared. Our representation wrapped up in a beautiful bouquet of a silly pirate show was almost the perfect vehicle for the world to see and for us to make our point of love being love.
Rhys Darby as werewolf ‘Anton’ in What We Do In The Shadows
Have you played any other gay roles?
Not specifically, but some would argue that my character in A Series of Unfortunate Events is. I was, basically, Don Johnson’s special guy. It was fun, and Don’s a great dude. It wasn’t an official gay role, but I felt my character was gay.
When it comes to music, do you have a diva?
Kylie Minogue. I love Can’t Get You Out of My Head. I had her first album, a cassette tape, and it was the first I’d ever bought. It had the classics The Loco-Motion and I Should Be So Lucky, and she had the big, frizzy hair on the cover. I had a special thing for Kylie way back then.
Rhys Darby voiced the character of Tag Tuckerbag on The Simpsons
What song gets you onto the dancefloor?
Anything from Saturday Night Fever and the Bee Gees. Also Murder on the Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Which had a huge resurgence thanks to Saltburn.
I love it when that happens! When an artist gets a relaunch because their song is big on a movie or a TV series, like Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill on Stranger Things. I love that song. I also love the songs we have on Our Flag Means Death. They packed in iconic tunes that went well with our scenes. Every time I hear Fleetwood Mac’s Chains, it takes me straight back to the pirate ship! That will stay close to my heart forever.
Rhys Darby on Hot In Cleveland
Who would you turn gay for?
That’s very easy – Henry Cavill. I’m a big fan of The Witcher. I like his ethics with physical fitness. He’s a capable, good strong guy you can trust. There’s nothing toxic about him – a good warrior man!
It’s been noted that you and Hugh Jackman look very similar.
Yes, on occasion, I have heard that. It’s a compliment. Wasn’t he awarded the sexiest man alive? That alone makes me think I must have something!
Rhys Darby with David Duchovney on The X-Files
Is it true that before becoming an entertainer, you were a soldier?
I was in the Royal New Zealand Signals Corps for four years. Before that, I was a regular force cadet. I left school at seventeen and joined a military school that shaped non-commissioned officers. I graduated and became a radio operator, driving Land Rovers, putting up antennas and generally having a great time with the boys. I finally realised I wasn’t supposed to be a soldier forever and left. But it was a great time.
“Some would argue that my character in A Series of Unfortunate Events is gay.”
Who has been your biggest influence in the industry?
Number one has always been the Monty Python troupe and prior to them, Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers. Then there are Jim Carrey, Rowan Atkinson, Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy. You can see a pattern there of comedy actors, some who do stand-up but always involving ‘acting stand-up’ which is what I do.
Rhys Darby as the Were-Monster on The X-Files
Do you have a favourite quote?
I was on the Queen Mary, which is like a haunted ocean liner now docked permanently at Long Beach, Los Angeles, and there’s a quote on the boat from Winston Churchill – “I am easily satisfied with the very best”. A personal quote from myself would be, “Just be true to yourself”. I’ve always lived by that because if you’re not true to yourself, you’re just not being ‘true’, and you’ll never be truly happy. A part of that led the character of Stede Bonnet to come out and be who he wanted to be, and that’s important for the queer community. Anyone who wants to come out that hasn’t – be true to yourself.
What has been your biggest on-set wardrobe malfunction?
Not a malfunction, but I played a mermaid in Our Flag Means Death, where I had to be sewn into my ‘fins’. I couldn’t walk, so they put me into a wheelchair, lifted it up and launched me into a giant pool. I also had some weights because I was too buoyant. I did feel very malfunctioned as a half-human, but once I was in the water, my fishy half came to life. I could swim with it!
Do you have a grooming tip?
Don’t over-wash your hair because the natural oils will keep it how it’s supposed to be. Let nature take control of it. Wash it when needed and don’t use too much product. My hair is something I’m happy with. I make sure my colourist does a good job. You can’t have a cheap dye because it’s not a good look, and there’s nothing wrong with silver foxes – they’re hot as hell!
When it comes to underwear are you into boxers, briefs or freeballing?
Tight, fitted boxers, but not too tight. I need to be comfortable down there, especially with all my movement on stage!
The Legend Returns is part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
For more visit: comedyfestival.com.au & rhysdarby.com
Follow Rhys on Instagram @rhysiedarby
Rhys Darby Photo credit Robyn Von Swank
