The Americans, Perry Mason & more: A look back at Matthew Rhys' illustrious career after he makes history at the 78th Emmy awards

Widow's Bay star Matthew Rhys has created history, winning two lead acting awards at the Emmys. He won them for the aforementioned comedy series and The Beast in Me.

The 2026 Emmys took place at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Monday, September 14. Matthew Rhys was nominated twice in the leading actor category. In a historic moment, he became the first actor to win two lead acting awards at the Emmys.

Rhys won one award for his role as Tom Loftis in the comedy-horror series Widow's Bay. It shows a mayor trying to boost tourism on their island, which some believe is cursed. The Apple TV series, created by Katie Dippold, premiered in April this year and has been renewed for a second season.

Meanwhile, Matthew Rhys's second award was for his role as Nile Jarvis in The Beast in Me. It is a psychological thriller that focuses on the author Aggie Wiggs (played by Claire Danes). The Netflix series, created by Gabe Rotter, premiered in November last year. The Beast in Me has also been renewed for a second season.

Notably, Matthew Rhys also won the lead acting award for his role as Philip Jennings in The Americans in 2018. He has also been nominated for four Golden Globe awards and three BAFTA awards, among other honors.

Born and brought up in Cardiff, Wales, Matthew Rhys attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. He featured in multiple shows and movies in London, New Zealand, and Wales in his early career. However, his major claim to fame came with The Americans, for which he won the Emmy Award in 2018.

He is also known for his roles in Perry Mason, Brothers & Sisters, and Cocaine Bear, among other movies and shows.

Also Read: "Made a mistake": Fans aren’t happy after Emmys' In Memoriam omits Chuck Norris and Nicholas Brendon

Matthew Rhys praised Widow's Bay creator Katie Dippold after historic Emmys win

Widow's Bay swept the comedy category at this year's Emmys. It won 14 awards between Monday's Primetime Emmy Awards and last week's Creative Arts ceremonies.

Matthew Rhys won in the lead acting category for the show and praised creator Katie Dippold in his acceptance speech. He said that she had a “depraved and twisted mind” and added:

“Her genius really does live in the recesses of her disturbed brain. [This win] is also because of my hero, [executive producer and director] Hiro Murai, who helmed us so beautifully and deftly.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in June, Rhys opened up about first reading the script for Widow's Bay and said:

“When I first read it, I was like, ‘What the f*ck is this? I’ve never read anything like this, and I’ve certainly never played anything remotely like this’. When I got on my first Zoom with Hiro, he just said, ‘Look, we’re not making a comedy. We’re not making horror. We’re just going to create a real world with real people that have real backstories — and we’ll play it for real.’”

Hiro Murai directed the show and also served as an executive producer. Stephen Root won Best Supporting Actor for the show, and Widow's Bay was also named Best Comedy Series.

Trending

Also Read: From lead actor to best comedy series: Widow's Bay steals the show at Emmys 2026 with 14 awards

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback