Ever the, uh, diplomat, Matthew Rhys made a declaration after he nabbed his first Emmy back in 2018. Though he was thrilled to notch a victory for his turn as one-half of a set of married spies…
Tag: matthew rhys
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Inside Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell’s Top-Secret Love Story
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys preferred to keep their off-screen romance private while portraying married Soviet spies on the acclaimed FX series The Americans. Their discretion ended unexpectedly when a burglar inadvertently exposed their relationship to the public.
The Americans co-stars, who played Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, had successfully shielded their personal connection from media scrutiny during the show’s early seasons. That privacy was compromised following a break-in incident that brought their real-life partnership into the spotlight ahead of their own timeline.
Russell and Rhys met on the set of the Cold War drama, which aired from 2013 to 2018. Their on-screen chemistry as deep-cover KGB officers navigating marriage, parenting, and espionage in 1980s Washington, D.C., translated into a genuine relationship that has endured beyond the series finale.
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Matthew Rhys Unrecognisable in BBC Debut Role Unseen for Over 25 Years
Matthew Rhys Makes Emmy History with Dual Lead Acting Wins
Welsh actor Matthew Rhys achieved a historic milestone at the Emmy Awards, becoming the first performer to win two lead acting categories in a single ceremony. The BBC reported that Rhys secured the award for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in Widow’s Bay and the award for Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role in The Beast in Me.
From Rookie Cop to Emmy Winner: Rhys’s Career Journey
Rhys’s career spans nearly three decades across television, theatre, and film. His resume includes voiceover work in animated series such as Bojack Horseman, Archer, and Tuca and Bertie, alongside film credits like Come What May, The Post, and Cocaine Bear.
His first television role came in 1997 with a small part in the BBC police procedural drama Backup. Rhys portrayed rookie police officer PC Steve Higson, who discovers the body of a teenager. Footage from the series shows a fresh-faced, clean-shaven Rhys with short hair giving evidence in court—a stark contrast to the longer curly hair and beard he wore on awards night.
Historic Night at the Emmys
Only a very small group of actors have ever been nominated for two leading awards at the Emmys in the same year, a list that includes Alan Alda, Ted Danson, Sally Field, John Goodman, and Elisabeth Moss. Rhys went further, making history as the first actor to win both leading categories on the same night.
Other winners during the ceremony included Jean Smart, Allison Janney, and Stephen Colbert.
Rhys’s Emotional Acceptance Speeches
Accepting his second award of the evening, Rhys dedicated the honor to his homeland:
“to the great and good people of Wales, who were as much a nurture as anyone else”
“We are a small but mighty nation. This is incredible,” he said, adding: “Diolch yn fawr iawn”, which is Cymraeg for ‘thank you very much’.
Speaking backstage after the awards, Rhys reflected on the significance of the moment for Wales:
“I’m from a small country, and I’m glad we get moments to kind of put our flag on the map and say, ‘we punch higher than our weight sometimes’.”
He also thanked his co-star Claire Danes, who plays an author developing an unhealthy obsession with a neighbor suspected of murder in The Beast in Me:
“Thank you for letting me join the mystery machine and bringing out the beast, you are an intimidating scene partner, but I’m grateful for all this.”
Rhys thanked his family, loved ones, and colleagues, in particular his parents who he said
kicked me on to the stage at a very early age
.Tributes to Dolly Parton and Catherine O’Hara
The ceremony also featured special tributes. Actor Sally Field, who starred with Dolly Parton, honored the singer and philanthropist:
“God bless you Dolly Parton my friend, I am not the only one on Earth who will love you for ever and ever.”
Tributes were also paid to actor Catherine O’Hara by Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy, who all played her on-screen children in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek. Culkin quipped:
“She may have forgotten me… twice! But we will always remember her.”
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Complete List of 2026 Emmy Award Winners
78th Primetime Emmy Awards: Complete Winners List and Biggest Surprises
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony took place Monday night, celebrating television’s most acclaimed performances and series from the past year. While several frontrunners entered with massive nomination tallies, the night delivered unexpected sweeps and historic wins across drama, comedy, and limited series categories.
Widow’s Bay Dominates with Six Wins
The breakout comedy Widow’s Bay emerged as the night’s biggest victor, sweeping six awards including Outstanding Comedy Series. The series defeated heavy competition from The Bear, Shrinking, Hacks, Abbott Elementary, and others to claim the top comedy prize.
Matthew Rhys earned Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance, while Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root took home the supporting acting honors. Hiro Murai won for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, and Katie Dippold secured the writing award.
The Pitt Claims Top Drama Honors
Despite leading all nominees with 25 total nominations across the main ceremony and Creative Arts Emmys, medical drama The Pitt secured two major wins. Noah Wyle won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and the series captured Outstanding Drama Series, besting contenders including Pluribus, The Gilded Age, and Slow Horses.
The Pitt’s ensemble earned numerous acting nominations—Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, Katherine LaNasa, Sepideh Moafi, Patrick Ball, Shawn Hatosy, and Gerran Howell all competed in supporting categories—but the series’ only acting win went to Wyle.
Hacks Sets Nomination Record, Wins One Award
Hacks entered the night with 24 nominations, setting a new single-year record for a comedy series. Jean Smart added another Emmy to her collection with Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, but the series came up short in Outstanding Comedy Series, writing, directing, and supporting acting categories.
Limited Series: DTF St. Louis Takes Top Prize
In a competitive limited/anthology field featuring All Her Fault, The Beast in Me, Beef, and Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, the award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series went to DTF St. Louis.
Matthew Rhys earned his second Emmy of the night with Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me. Sally Field won Outstanding Lead Actress for Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Other Major Category Winners
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Allison Janney, The Diplomat
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tom Pelphrey, Task
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
- Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses
- Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Vince Gilligan, Pluribus (“We Is Us”)
- Outstanding Reality Competition Program: The Traitors
- Outstanding Variety Series: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Complete Winners by Category
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay [WINNER]
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder Man
Steve Carell, Rooster
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the BuildingOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Jean Smart, Hacks [WINNER]
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Lisa Kudrow, The ComebackOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Allison Janney, The Diplomat [WINNER]
Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
Fiona Dourif, The Pitt
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt
Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
Karolina Wydra, PluribusOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Tom Pelphrey, Task [WINNER]
Patrick Ball, The Pitt
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
Gerran Howell, The Pitt
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
Carlos-Manuel Vesga, PluribusOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus [WINNER]
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Chase Infiniti, The Testaments
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Zendaya, EuphoriaOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay [WINNER]
Dale Dickey, Widow’s Bay
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Megan Stalter, Hacks
Jessica Williams, ShrinkingOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay [WINNER]
Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
Paul W. Downs, Hacks
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Michael Urie, Shrinking
Tyler James Williams, Abbott ElementaryOutstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Hiro Murai, Widow’s Bay [WINNER]
Randall Einhorn, Abbott Elementary
Christopher Storer, The Bear
Andrew DeYoung, The Chair Company
Lucia Aniello, Hacks
Mary Lou Belli, The Ms. Pat ShowOutstanding Directing for a Drama Series
Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses [WINNER]
Salli Richardson-Whitfield, The Gilded Age
Hanelle M. Culpepper, Paradise
Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Vince Gilligan, Pluribus
Salli Richardson-Whitfield, TaskOutstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Vince Gilligan, Pluribus, “We Is Us” [WINNER]
Peter Ackerman and Debora Cahn, The Diplomat, “Amagansett”
Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman and R. Scott Gemmill, The Pitt, “1:00 P.M.”
Valerie Chu, The Pitt, “12:00 P.M.”
Will Smith, Slow Horses, “Scars”
Brad Ingelsby, Task, “A Still Small Voice”Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Katie Dippold, Widow’s Bay [WINNER]
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin, The Chair Company
Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, Hacks
Anthony King, Jury Duty Presents Company RetreatOutstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures [WINNER]
Claire Danes, The Beast in Me
Carey Mulligan, Beef
Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Sarah Snook, All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me [WINNER]
Riz Ahmed, Bait
Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit
Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Oscar Isaac, BeefOutstanding Variety Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert [WINNER]
The Daily Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Limited or Anthology Series
DTF St. Louis [WINNER]
All Her Fault
The Beast in Me
Beef
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn BessetteOutstanding Comedy Series
Widow’s Bay [WINNER]
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
ShrinkingOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Noah Wyle, The Pitt [WINNER]
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Mark Ruffalo, Task
Rufus Sewell, The DiplomatOutstanding Drama Series
The Pitt [WINNER]
The Diplomat
The Gilded Age
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Paradise
Pluribus
Slow Horses
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