Keri Russell Told Matthew Rhys He Didn’t Need to Thank Her at Emmys

Keri Russell says she gave her partner, Matthew Rhys, permission to leave her name out of his Emmy Awards acceptance speeches last month.

Rhys, 51, enjoyed a double victory at the September 14 ceremony, taking home Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me.

Speaking with Chelsea Handler, 51, on Thursday’s episode of the podcast Dear Chelsea, Russell, 50, explained that she had spoken with Rhys before the ceremony and assured him he did not need to mention her during his speeches.

According to Russell, Rhys was feeling “so nervous” as the awards night approached, with the occasion bringing considerable pressure.

“We’re both nervous people—we’re not in that world that much,” Russell said. “We visit that world, and so we were both so nervous. I looked at him a few days before and said, ‘OK, can you articulate what you’re most nervous about?’”

When Rhys told her that speaking publicly was his main concern, Russell said she offered to remove one potential worry. “I said, ‘Totally. Take me off your plate. You don’t have to thank me. I know you love me.’”

Our News Outlet has reached out to representatives for Russell and Rhys for further comment on the story.

Russell said acceptance speeches remain a particularly sensitive subject for Rhys, who continues to receive “a hard time” from fellow actors after he failed to mention them when accepting Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for The Americans in 2018.

Reflecting on the criticism, Russell said: “It’s so crazy. People get nuts. It’s stupid, and it’s also lame.”

Handler agreed that thanking professional collaborators can make more sense during an awards speech than acknowledging a romantic partner.

Russell said she had no issue with anyone using the moment however they chose. “I don’t care if you want to thank the dog walker—you do whatever you want to do. That’s your minute, that’s your 45 seconds,” she said. “So I just said, ‘Take me off your plate.’”

She added that the couple ultimately agreed they did not need to thank one another publicly. “We kind of said to each other, ‘We don’t have to thank each other—this is private; this is for the business people. Thank whoever you want to thank.’”

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While accepting his award for The Beast in Me, Rhys joked, “If you try to turn me off, I’ll stab you in the eyes with this,” referring to the Emmy statuette in his hand.

He went on to describe the win as “a real shock,” particularly given the talent surrounding him in the production. Rhys also praised co-star Claire Danes, highlighting the powerful presence she brought to the crime drama.

Rhys told Danes: “Thank you for letting me join the mystery machine and bringing out the beast. You are an intimidating scene partner, but I’m very grateful for all of this.”

Following his victory for his work on Widow’s Bay, the Welsh star received a standing ovation from the crowd after capturing both awards for lead acting roles.

He said, ‘My apologies to the women who had to stand,’ prior to thanking the show’s creator Katie Dippold, adding that ‘her genius really does live in the recesses of her disturbed brain.’

Rhys also mentioned his parents and sister for ‘all the sage words and patient listening,’ but did not mention Russell, causing some users on social media to take notice.

Russell, who initially crossed paths with Rhys filming The Americans in 2012, had been up for multiple honors at the show herself for her work on The Diplomat. 

They included Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and, as an executive producer, Outstanding Drama Series.