“What Drew Me [In] Was All The Emotional Depth Hidden Beneath The Surface”: Kingston Rumi Southwick On Mystery-Thriller Widow’s Bay

The 18-year-old stars as Matthew Rhys’ son in the Apple TV+ series, primed for every “Best of” TV roundup this year.

“Right off the bat, I was intrigued by the role,” says Kingston Rumi Southwick. The LA-born actor has recently met audiences as Evan, the rebellious son of Matthew Rhys’s Mayor Tom Loftis in critically beloved Apple TV+ comedy-drama, Widow’s Bay. “I was really excited to play a character who develops an emotional and narrative journey,” he tells Man About Town.

Set in the cursed coastal town of Widow’s Bay, the show follows the Mayor, desperate to modernise the isolated New England community, who finds himself clashing with locals claiming a centuries-old demonic presence haunts the island. A love letter to classic folk-horror by Stephen King and David Lynch, it’s part workplace comedy, part old-school thriller, and grounded in a vague off-the-grid atmosphere. Created by Katie Dippold, the 10-episode season has captivated audiences weekly since its premiere on April 29. Southwick’s Evan starts out as your average teenager, ordinarily restless and rebellious, but thanks to a newly discovered bloodline, finds himself at the heart of the curse’s unravelment. 

For Southwick, it marks his return to the foreground following a breakout role in David E Kelley’s Presumed Innocent, in which he shared the screen with stars including Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga and Chase Infiniti. Kelley’s legal thriller is one of Apple TV+’s most-watched dramas ever and earned several prominent nominations across the 2024-2025 awards season. Southwick was also recently spotted in Prime Video’s 56 Days, playing young Oliver (the junior counterpart to Avan Jogia’s lead role in the searing erotic thriller).  

To mark the conclusion of the first season of Widow’s Bay, Man About Town speaks with Southwick, discussing his role as a troubled teenager, future plans, and his obsession with filmmaking. 

What compelled you about Widow’s Bay? Can you tell us your first impressions after reading the script?

I became genuinely interested in the show when I heard Katie Dippold and Hiro Murai were set to be a part of it. My main impression after reading the script was that the writers really knew horror-comedy, so I became even more interested in how their script and ideas would play out. I think it’s usually quite difficult to pin down and carry through the sort of tone they were after, but, honestly, after being on set, I felt I was in good hands. 

What aspects of playing Evan excited you? Was there anything about his character that also might’ve worried you when taking on the role?                                

Evan has a clear purpose, and I think his growth throughout the season is very interesting. The character is compelling because I don’t think of him as just another misfit kid who could be quite jarring to watch for too long on screen. I was worried about making sure he stood out from this stereotype. Because of this, I really wanted to show why he lashes out and how much smarter he may be, more than he’s letting on.    

Who were you most excited to work alongside in this show?                               

That’s a good question! Genuinely, there were multiple. I always adored Matthew and his work, so having the opportunity to work alongside him was really special. I was also excited to work with the directors, Hiro Murai, Andrew DeYoung, Samuel Donovan and Ti West. I had a lot of fun working with all the cast and crew. 

Out of all the characters in Widow’s Bay, who do you relate to the most and why?       

Definitely Patricia, played by Katie O’Flynn. I don’t think anyone could have played that role other than her. Honestly, I not only relate to her character, but I would also love to be her friend. 

What aspects of yourself do you see in Evan?                                                              

I think Evan really wants to be seen and treated as an equal to Tom. Evan really wants to have his opinions and ideas heard and acknowledged, and I think that’s the part of his character I relate to most. I think that adds some more humanity and realism to his personality, because every actor wants to be seen and heard, not only on set, but in everyday life.   

Having broken through at such a young age, is there one piece of advice from a previous co-star that has really helped you navigate that process?                 

Yes, absolutely! I feel so lucky to consistently receive such great advice and support. I think the standout word of advice would be to always consider the intelligence of the audience when developing the character. I’m reminded that the audience is very clever and quick to catch on to character traits of any role on screen. They question why characters act as they do and sometimes analyse even the smallest details. So understanding why a character I’m playing is reacting to a situation is key. The audience will always question it too, so I’m told a great place to get started on a scene is to ask and understand the why.   

Who are three people (either behind or in front of the camera) that you would love to collaborate with?                                    

Another great question! I really enjoy working with people who are just as – if not more – obsessed with films and this industry as I am. I would love to work with so many directors, but especially Greta Gerwig. I always loved all of her films, and I appreciate how well she understands and carries out compelling character development. Also, I’ve admired Curry Barker since the start of his career on YouTube and in producing short films. I think the praise for Obsession is 100% deserved! I would love the opportunity to work with him in the future. Aside from these directors, I admire the cinematography of Darius Khondji, who recently worked on Marty Supreme. I think he’s phenomenal and really understands how narrative and storytelling are developed through active and reflective visuals.    

After Widow’s Bay, what’s another element of your acting muscle that you would love to exercise next?                       

Honestly, many things. I want to start exploring and working on more films. In the future, I would love to take on directing. It’s especially intriguing to me.   

Widow’s Bay is out now on AppleTV+