matt berry what we do in the shadows
Matt Berry plays the 18th‑century English vampire Laszlo Cravensworth in the FX comedy series What We Do in the Shadows , a role that’s become one of his most acclaimed performances and earned him major awards recognition in recent years.
Quick Scoop: Matt Berry in What We Do in the Shadows
Who Matt Berry Plays
- Matt Berry stars as Laszlo Cravensworth , a flamboyant, aristocratic vampire living on Staten Island with his undead roommates.
- Laszlo is written as a centuries‑old, pansexual English dandy whose mix of ego, hedonism, and surprising tenderness has become a core appeal of the show.
- Berry’s natural voice, pushed into an exaggerated, grandiose register, is central to Laszlo’s comedy and is frequently quoted by fans.
How He Created Laszlo
- Berry originally expected to play an Eastern European‑style vampire, but co‑creator Jemaine Clement specifically asked him to sound like himself, leading to the “fallen lord” vibe Laszlo now has.
- He built a backstory where Laszlo was a rigid aristocrat who loosened up after being turned by Nadja, which explains his blend of old‑world manners and chaotic pleasure‑seeking.
- Berry has said that the detailed mansion sets help him fully inhabit Laszlo, because being surrounded by a 360‑degree “old house” makes the performance feel more authentic.
Why His Performance Stands Out
- Critics and fans consistently single out Berry as one of the main reasons the TV version of What We Do in the Shadows is so memorable, with some outlets arguing the series is “worth it simply for Matt Berry.”
- His performance has finally brought him broad recognition in the U.S., including his first major Emmy nomination for acting in a comedy series.
- Viewers often struggle to separate Berry from Laszlo because the character is such a “strong flavor,” something even Berry himself has acknowledged in interviews.
Latest News and Final Season Talk
- In 2024 and 2025 interviews, Berry discussed both the joy and challenge of playing Laszlo over multiple seasons, particularly as the show moved toward its announced final season.
- Cast interviews around 2024 conventions described the sixth season as the final run, with the vampires confronting their lack of progress over the last 50 years and even entering the human workforce.
- Berry has indicated he’s proud of the show and ready, emotionally and creatively, to say goodbye to Laszlo so he can move on to new projects, while acknowledging that audiences may take longer to let the character go.
Fandom and Forum/Trending Discussion
- On forums like Reddit, fans frequently highlight Berry’s dual roles across projects (for example, Laszlo in What We Do in the Shadows and his voice work in animated shows), celebrating his instantly recognizable delivery.
- Meme culture around Laszlo—especially bits like his alter ego “Jackie Daytona, regular human bartender”—comes up often in fan debates about the show’s best episodes and funniest characters.
- Podcast conversations and fan essays regularly revisit Berry’s broader career (The IT Crowd , Toast of London , Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace) while treating Laszlo as the breakout role that finally connected him with a large American audience.
At a Glance (HTML table)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Character name | Laszlo Cravensworth, an 18th‑century English vampire. | [3][7]
| Show | What We Do in the Shadows (FX comedy series based on the film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi). | [2]
| Performance style | Grandiose, aristocratic, hedonistic, with a highly distinctive vocal delivery. | [3][7]
| Recognition | Brought Berry major U.S. acclaim and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. | [10][1][3]
| Recent buzz | Interviews about the show’s final season, his process, and saying goodbye to Laszlo. | [4][5][10]
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
