Matthew Rhys Wins Historic Double Emmy, Credits Keri Russell as “Always Really the Winner”

Welsh actor Matthew Rhys made Emmy history on Sunday night, becoming the first male performer to win lead acting awards in both comedy and limited series categories in the same year.

At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, Rhys took home the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series trophy for his role as Mayor Tom Loftis in ‘Widow’s Bay’, followed by the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for playing Nile Jarvis in ‘The Beast in Me’.

Despite the milestone achievement, Rhys was quick to deflect praise toward his longtime partner, actress Keri Russell, who was also at the ceremony as a nominee. “She’s always really the winner,” he said.

Russell, who starred alongside Rhys in the acclaimed FX drama ‘The Americans’, earned her own recognition at the September 14 ceremony for her role as Kate Wyler in Netflix’s ‘The Diplomat*. She was also nominated as an executive producer on the political thriller.

The wins bring Rhys’s total Emmy count to three. He previously claimed the award in 2018 for his performance in ‘The Americans’, the series that brought him and Russell together professionally before their relationship began in 2014.

The couple’s separate career paths continue to flourish, with Russell anchoring ‘The Diplomat’Matthew Rhys Wins Historic Double Emmy, Credits Keri Russell as “Always Really the Winner” while Rhys pursues a diverse range of television roles. His tribute to his partner offered a reminder that even at the height of professional success, he remains grounded by their shared journey.