'Widow's Bay' star Matthew Rhys made history with two back-to-back wins as the lead actor in the 2026 Emmys. But he made the spotlight all about his longtime partner, Keri Russell.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleMatthew Rhys had a night to remember at the 2026 Emmys, making history twice while taking home two lead acting awards. But even with two trophies in his hands, the Widow's Bay star couldn't resist turning the spotlight toward his longtime partner, Keri Russell.
Rhys won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Netflix's The Beast in Me before later winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Apple TV+'s Widow's Bay. The double victory made him the first performer to win two lead acting Emmys on the same night and the first male performer to win lead acting awards across drama, comedy and limited series.
Russell was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for The Diplomat, marking her third consecutive nomination in the category. She didn't take home the trophy this time, but Rhys made it clear backstage that he still considers her the winner.
Social media users noticed that Rhys didn't mention Russell during either of his televised acceptance speeches, leading to some playful jokes about the couple's Emmy-night competition. But backstage, the Welsh actor had plenty to say about his longtime partner. When asked about the supposed rivalry between the two Emmy-nominated actors, Rhys joked that things were rather competitive at home. In his words:
"It's not playful. I've got a lot of money on myself."
He revealed that their children had even created their own betting pool, with Rhys apparently being the favorite to win. He joked, "The kids ran a book, and I was the odds-on favorite. It's going to be a rough week for her."
But Rhys quickly made it clear that he wasn't taking Russell's loss too seriously. He said, "You know, she's always the class act, pointing out that Russell had sent her fellow nominees a Gloria Steinem quote about being "linked and not ranked." Rhys asserted that Russell was "always really the winner, if I'm perfectly honest," before making his prediction: "I think next year she might get one, that's my bet."
Russell has now earned eight Emmy nominations added to her name throughout her career, including her latest recognition for The Diplomat. With her husband bagging the Emmys, the couple also knows how to keep awards season from becoming too serious. Rhys told E! News that Russell had joked before coming to the event, "If you win both, I'm not coming home with you."
The couple's relationship began with one of television's most memorable on-set romances. Rhys and Russell played married Russian spies 'Elizabeth' and 'Philip Jennings' on the popular drama series, The Americans. What fans didn't know was that their on-screen chemistry eventually evolved into something much more personal behind the scenes. When they started dating, neither Rhys nor Russell was eager to mix work and romance.
The two had actually met years earlier at a kickball-and-beer party in Los Angeles, and there was a spark in that very first meeting. Rhys later recalled drunkenly asking Russell for her phone number when they were both younger. They hadn't been in contact for years after that, and as if destiny had it planned all along, they reunited for The Americans. They soon discovered that the old encounter had remained etched in their hearts all these years.
The couple's relationship developed slowly and secretively while they kept working together, with Russell later describing a lot of "Oh, we shouldn't" moments before the romance finally took hold. The couple often refers to themselves as 'husband and wife,' but there is no public confirmation whether or not they are legally married.
The exact timeline of their romance remains blurry, but it first made headlines in 2013 when they were spotted together in public. Russell had separated from her husband, Shane Deary, earlier that year. She and Rhys were photographed together later that year, and their relationship became public in 2014 after a bizarre incident involving a burglar at Russell's Brooklyn home.
The thief was caught with a bag containing belongings that turned out to belong to Rhys. When police came to the set to return the items, their secret relationship was effectively exposed. "Everyone [found out], one clean sweep," Rhys later joked about their secret coming out most unexpectedly.
The couple welcomed their son, Sam, in 2016. Russell also has two older children, River and Willa, from her previous marriage, and Rhys has wholeheartedly embraced his role as their stepfather. Their relationship has now lasted more than a decade, surviving Hollywood schedules, award-season competition, and plenty of jokes between them.
Rhys may have walked away from the 2026 Emmys with two historic trophies, but he is still the biggest cheerleader for his partner.
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