Is Matthew Rhys married to Keri Russell? Relationship timeline explored after Welsh actor makes history at the Emmys

Matthew Rhys created history at the 2026 Emmy Awards, becoming the first actor to win two awards in the lead actor category. Notably, his partner, Keri Russell, was also nominated in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category.

The Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles hosted the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on Monday, September 14. Matthew Rhys won in the Best Actor in a Comedy Series and the Best Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie categories. He won the first for Widow's Bay and the second for The Beast in Me.

He attended the ceremony with his partner, Keri Russell. The two actors aren't legally married. She was nominated in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category for her role as Kate Wyler in The Diplomat. Rhea Seehorn won in that category for her role as Carol Sturka in Pluribus.

Meanwhile, Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell have been together for over 12 years now. They first met in 2002 during a kickball game. They were later cast together in The Americans a decade later. However, Russell was married to Shane Deary back then, and they also had two kids: a son, River, and a daughter, Willa.

Russell and Deary, however, split in 2013, and their divorce was finalized the following year. Rhys and Russell later confirmed their relationship in 2014. They had a son together in 2016 named Samuel.

Matthew Rhys speaks about Keri Russell's nomination after his historic night at the Emmys

After winning two awards, Matthew Rhys gave two acceptance speeches. Some people on social media spoke about how he didn't mention Keri Russell in either speech.

However, the actor spoke about his partner in the press room after his win. When asked about the competitiveness between him and Russell, with both being nominated, Rhys jokingly said:

“It’s not playful. I’ve got a lot of money on myself. The kids ran a book, and I was the odds-on favorite. It’s going to be a rough week for her. I’m sorry, I don’t know if I am to be perfectly honest. You know, she’s always the class act. She sends her fellow nominees Gloria Steinem quotes about being linked and not judged, and I’m the one going, Wahoo!“

He added that Keri Russell is “always really the winner, if I’m perfectly honest” and said:

“And I think next year she might get one, that’s my bet.”

The 51-year-old had also shared his joke with Russell about their nominations. Before the ceremony, Matthew Rhys said (h/t E! News):

"She [Keri Russell] goes, 'If you win both, I'm not coming home with you.' OK, fair enough."

When asked if this meant that he was free, he answered:

"I don't know if I'm free. Lonely, maybe."

Russell has earned eight Emmy nominations so far in her career. Matthew Rhys has also earned eight nominations, but won four times. Along with the aforementioned two awards, he also won the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series award for The Americans in 2018. He has also been credited as an executive producer on Widow's Bay, which won in the Outstanding Comedy Series category this year.

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Also Read: Emmys 2026: Full list of winners for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards

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