After history-making Emmy wins, Matthew Rhys is ‘insufferable,’ Keri Russell teases
Keri Russell playfully admits Matthew Rhys’ Emmy success comes with a hilarious catch, hinting at the one thing it’s somehow thrown out of whack.
At home, the celebration came with an eye roll. Asked point-blank if Matthew Rhys has been insufferable since his big Emmy night, Keri Russell didn’t hesitate. Their kids had already turned the evening into a family pool over which parent would win, and son Sam promptly put in a request for a school pickup after the results came in. Rhys’ sister even flew in from Wales to be with them for the show.
“Yes, obviously.”
That was Russell’s instant answer when Entertainment Tonight asked, “Has he been insufferable at home ever since?” She and Rhys spoke to the outlet backstage after a history-making haul that turned the Welsh actor into the story of the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Rhys pulled off a feat no man had managed before: two lead acting trophies in one night — one in limited or anthology, and one in comedy for playing Tom Loftis in Widow’s Bay. Add his 2018 drama win for The Americans, and he now holds lead Emmys across all three major lanes.
- Lead Actor in a Drama — The Americans (2018)
- Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series — 2026
- Lead Actor in a Comedy — Widow’s Bay (as Tom Loftis), 2026
From spies to partners
Their story goes back to a 2002 kickball game where, after a few drinks, Rhys asked Russell for her number — and never heard back. A decade later they were cast as KGB spouses Elizabeth and Philip Jennings on The Americans in 2012, and sparks actually flew this time. Russell had separated from her husband Shane Deary by early 2013; the pair were soon spotted around Brooklyn, and People confirmed the relationship in April 2014 after a night at the Public Theater.
They welcomed son Sam Rhys in May 2016, with the series cleverly hiding Russell’s pregnancy behind winter coats and salad bowls on camera. At home, Rhys speaks only Welsh with Sam. Russell, for her part, has joked that if Rhys ever tried a public proposal, the answer would be a hard no. Two Emmy contenders under one roof makes for a competitive house — and the kids love it.
It wasn’t just Rhys’ personal milestone: Widow’s Bay walked away with 14 awards overall, edging past The Studio’s 13-win tally from last year.