The “Widow’s Bay” actor confirmed that he “didn’t really prepare anything” before taking the stage.

Matthew Rhys didn’t thank Keri Russell in his Emmy speeches — but backstage was a different story

The “Widow’s Bay” actor confirmed that he “didn’t really prepare anything” before taking the stage.

By Shelby Stivale

Shelby Stivale

Shelby Stivale is a senior writer at **. She has been working at EW since July 2026. Her work has previously appeared on Us Weekly and J-14.

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September 15, 2026 10:15 a.m. ET

Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell at the 2026 Emmys. Credit:

Kevin Mazur/Getty

- Matthew Rhys made history with two acting Emmy wins during the 2026 ceremony.

- Social media was abuzz when the actor did not mention longtime partner Keri Russell in either acceptance speech.

- Rhys didn’t shy away from discussing Russell backstage.

Calm down, Keri Russell fans, Matthew Rhys didn’t snub his longtime partner at the 2026 Emmys.

After making history with his two wins on Monday, the *Widow’s Bay *star spoke with *E! News* backstage and confirmed that he “didn’t really prepare anything, which is why I vomited that speech.” Rhys took home dual wins in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category for his role in *The Beast in Me* and accepted the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series award for *Widow’s Bay* later that evening. He also won a third Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series as a producer on *Widow’s Bay*.

Social media erupted when Rhys failed to mention Russell in either speech. However, no one has to worry about trouble in paradise.

“She goes, ‘If you win both, I’m not coming home with you.’ Okay, fair enough,” he quipped to *E! News*. When asked if that meant he was “free” for the night Rhys replied, “I don’t know if I’m free. Lonely, maybe.”

Rhys previously won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for *The Americans* in 2018, making him the only performer in history to have won lead acting prizes across all three genres. The statuettes Rhys took home on Monday will join the other one — in his and Russell’s basement.

Matthew Rhys with his two acting Emmys for ‘The Beast in Me’ and ‘Widow’s Bay’.

Amy Sussman/Getty

“When Keri wins one, I’ll take mine out,” Rhys explained to CNN after the ceremony. (Rhys and Russell have been together since 2014 after meeting on *The Americans* and share one son together. Rhys is also a parent to Russell’s two children from a previous relationship.)

When the actor stepped into the Emmys press room after his wins on Monday, he praised Russell for being “a class act” to her fellow nominees. (Russell lost Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for *The Diplomat* on Monday to *Pluribus*’ Rhea Seehorn and is now 0-8 at the Emmys.)

“She’s always really the winner, if I’m perfectly honest,” he said, joking that the competition in their household “is not playful” when it comes to Emmys wins. “I’ve bet a lot of money on myself. The kids run a book.”

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He added, “It’s going to be a rough week for her and I’m sorry. I don’t know if I am to be perfectly honest.”

Getting serious, Rhys said Russell is “always a class act” who sends her fellow nominees Gloria Steinem quotes “about being linked and not judged, and I’m here going, ‘Woo-hoo!’” He concluded: “So she’s always really the winner, if I’m perfectly honest. I think next year she might get one.”

The move to leave Russell out of his acceptance speeches also might have been an intentional one for Rhys, who “took some heat” for his acceptance speech in 2018. For those who forgot, Rhys joked on stage that Russell said she would punch him “clean in the mouth” if he proposed during his speech, leading to a viral reaction from Russell.

The joke was a reference to Glenn Weiss, who famously proposed to his girlfriend earlier on that evening while accepting the award for award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special.

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“*Why s--- on that guy’s moment?* I was like, ‘Because we were all given 45 seconds, and that guy got eight minutes.’ You know what I’m saying?” Rhys recalled during a joint interview with Russell with *Variety** *published last month.

“Do it on your own time, man! For me to have to do anything public is horrifying,” Russell said. “I would die. I would say no. Good night!”

Rhys joked that her response would be: “Get off the stage! Take your little award the f--- offstage!”

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Source: “EW Emmys”