Griffin Matthews enters the final season of You with a mission—and a killer sense of style. As Teddy Lockwood, the outcast brother-in-law of Joe Goldberg’s latest obsession, Matthews delivers the rare voice of reason in a show known for its chaos, privilege, and psychological twists.
“This is the first job I’ve ever had where I watched all of the seasons and then found myself inside of it,” Matthews told Gayety. “Day one, I walk onto set and I’m like, ‘Oh God, that’s the cage. Oh God, that’s actually Penn.'”
Who Is Griffin Matthews?
Griffin Matthews is an actor, writer, and activist best known for roles in The Flight Attendant, She-Hulk, and Genius: MLK/X. Offscreen, he co-founded the Uganda Project, a nonprofit that supports students in East Africa, and co-wrote the acclaimed musical Witness Uganda, based on that work. Now, he stars as Teddy in the final chapter of the Netflix thriller.
Teddy Lockwood may be new to You‘s universe, but he makes an impression fast. Positioned as an outsider within the elite Lockwood family, Teddy brings a grounded, empathetic energy that sharply contrasts with the show’s usual players. He isn’t just a supporting character—he’s a much-needed reality check.
“He’s a different race, different culture, different economic background,” Matthews explained. “I loved that I was going to bring a different perspective to all of these rich, billionaire, white British people—murderer people.”
Playing the Disruptor
For Matthews, these roles are more than just great TV—they’re part of a bigger mission. With every role he takes on, he challenges the boundaries of who gets to exist onscreen, especially in thrillers where Black queer characters are often an afterthought.
“I generally play the disruptor,” he said. “And I think normally the Black and the queer people—we’re the disruptors of life. We get to show people that there’s another version of this story.”
Teddy is that disruption. He’s stylish and sharp-tongued, yes, but he’s also a voice of compassion and truth in a world consumed by lies. And for viewers watching at home, Teddy represents something we rarely see in a psychological thriller: authentic, layered representation.
“It’s time for characters we don’t just see—we go home with them,” Matthews added. “We get to really know what’s behind closed doors.”
Matthews hopes his character will be the beginning of a broader shift in the genre. “I’d love to lead a series where people get to peer into the world of what it actually is to be a gay Black man living in 2025.”
Season 5 of You is now streaming on Netflix.
