Matthew Rhys stunned the audience at Monday’s 78th Primetime Emmy Awards by becoming the first actor to win two lead acting awards in a single evening.
However, the 51-year-old Welsh star also left viewers at home surprised when he failed to thank—or even mention—his longtime partner, actress Keri Russell.
Rhys collected his first prize for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me. Yet during the acceptance speech, he did not acknowledge Russell, 50, with whom he began a relationship after they worked together on The Americans.
In the apparent shock of the moment, Rhys did not seem to look toward Russell as he made his way to the stage. He did, however, stop to embrace an elated Claire Danes, his costar in The Beast in Me.
Later in the ceremony, Rhys had another opportunity to address the omission when he returned to accept his second award of the night: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Apple TV+’s horror-comedy Widow’s Bay.
Even in his second acceptance speech, though, the actor again made no reference to Russell.
Matthew Rhys made Emmy history on Monday by winning two lead actor awards in one night at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. The 51-year-old Welsh actor also surprised viewers by failing to thank or mention his longtime partner, Keri Russell.
Rhys first won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me, then made history later in the ceremony by taking home Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Apple TV+’s horror-comedy Widow’s Bay.
Rhys appeared too stunned to acknowledge Russell as he went to accept his first award, though he paused to hug Claire Danes, his costar in The Beast in Me.
When Rhys’s name was announced for the first time, Danes immediately rose from her seat, visibly stunned, with her mouth open in disbelief.
She opened her arms and the pair shared a brief embrace, rocking from side to side as Danes touched his face before Rhys headed toward the stage.
‘Matthew Rhys doesn’t even look at Keri Russell next to him, and doesn’t thank her,’ one user on X wrote as they posted a video of the NBC broadcast that they shot on their phone from their TV of the enthusiastic hug.
Rhys began his first acceptance speech with a confrontational joke, warning, “If you try to turn me off, I’ll stab you in the eyes with this [award].”
“This is a real shock, not least because of the caliber and company of the actors in this program,” he said, going on to thank his colleagues from The Beast in Me as well as Danes.
“Thank you for letting me join the mystery machine. Intimidating scene partner, but I’m very grateful for all this,” he added before leaving the stage.
After making history and returning to accept his second Emmy for Widow’s Bay, Rhys lightened the moment by joking, “My apologies to the women who had to stand.”
In the audience, Martin Short was seen on the broadcast comically tearing up his acceptance speech after losing out on the award.
After his name was called the first time, his costar Danes jumped to her feet and looked shocked as her mouth hung open. She stretched her arms out for a hug, and she and Rhys briefly rocked back and forth while she touched his face
‘Matthew Rhys doesn’t even look at Keri Russell next to him, and doesn’t thank her,’ one user on X wrote as they posted a video of the NBC broadcast that they shot on their phone from their TV of the enthusiastic hug
‘This is purely because of the depraved and twisted mind of [Widow’s Bay creator] Katie [Dippold], and her genius really does live in the recesses of her disturbed brain,’ Rhys said.
Toward the end of his speech, Rhys made sure to thank multiple family members, including his parents and his sister, whom he mentioned was in the audience.
‘She was the brains of the outfit all along,’ he joked, adding, ‘Thank you for all the sage words and patient listening.’
Despite Rhys apparently snubbing his partner of 12 years, Russell suggested she was still fully supporting him when she was seen letting out a big cheer and applauding enthusiastically from their table when Rhys won his second award of the night.
‘THE CHEER FROM HER…… all that matters all that matters,’ wrote one user on X who posted video of the moment.
In a video posted to X, Yahoo Entertainment reporter Taryn Ryder shared video taken from inside the theater showing Rhys returning with one of his Emmys to embrace Russell and pose with her for a photographer.
After the photographer had enough snaps, the two actors leaned in for a kiss to cement the honor.
It was a night of disappointment for Russell, who lost out on her single nomination, for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for The Diplomat, to Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn.
Rhys skipped the hug for his second win, though Danes still jumped to her feet to applaud the special moment
Rhys again didn’t mention Russell during his second win, yet he managed to thank his parents and sister, who was at the ceremony
Despite Rhys apparently snubbing his partner of 12 years, Russell suggested she was still fully supporting him when she was seen letting out a big cheer and applauding enthusiastically from their table when Rhys won his second award of the night
‘KERI RUSSELL 8-time EMMY LOSER,’ a poster joked on X while comically juxtaposing their comment with a clip of Russell falling down a staircase from season two of The Diplomat
Apple TV horror comedy series Widow’s Bay was the biggest winner at the Emmy Awards 2026 as it swept the ceremony with leading man Matthew Rhys making history as the first actor to win two leading acting gongs in different categories in one night.
On the drama side, it was once again The Pitt who was the big winner as the HBO Max series took home top honor Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for Noah Wyle. They earned the same honors last at last year’s Emmys.
However, it was Widow’s Bay that made the massive first impression on television’s biggest night as it won in all six categories it was nominated in, including the top honor Outstanding Comedy Series.
The comedy-horror series beat out: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, and Shrinking.
Widow’s Bay is set in the fictional New England island town of Widow’s Bay, which happens to be afflicted with a centuries-old curse that brings various supernatural evils upon the island
In addition to Rhys, top acting honors were earned by Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root in the Outstanding Supporting Actress and Actor in a Comedy Series categories, respectively.
Widow’s Bay was the biggest winner at the Emmy Awards 2026 as it swept the ceremony with leading man Matthew Rhys made history as the first actor to win two leading acting gongs in different categories in one night
It was Widow’s Bay that made the massive first impression at on television’s biggest night as it won in all six categories it was nominated in including the top honor Outstanding Comedy Series as series creator Katie Dippold is seen accepting the honor
On the drama side, it was once again The Pitt who was the big winner as the HBO Max series took home top honor Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for Noah Wyle
However, their co-star Rhys was perhaps the biggest winner of the night as he made history by becoming the first actor to earn two leading acting honors in the same night.
He not only earned Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy series for the Apple TV series, but also took home Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me earlier in the evening.
On the Apple TV series, the talented actor portrays Tom Loftis, mayor of Widow’s Bay, as he is originally from the mainland and is initially skeptical of the local residents’ superstitions about the island’s supposed curse. He is a widower and father to a son, Evan, from his marriage to his deceased wife, Lauren.
In the psychological thriller mini-series, Rhys portrays Nile Jarvis, who is the son of a real estate magnate who moves next door to the home of Aggie Wiggs [Clare Danes] in Oyster Bay, New York, on Long Island to live in a more secluded manner with his second wife, as he allegedly killed his first wife.
The Pitt earned the top award of the night Outstanding Drama Series, on a night where it earned 25 nominations, which was the most from any single series.
It faced stiff competition including: The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Paradise, Pluribus, Slow Horses, and Your Friends and Neighbors.
The Pitt is centered around the daily lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they juggle personal crises, workplace politics, and the emotional toll of treating critically ill patients, revealing the resilience required in their noble calling.
Noah Wyle was the first to be awarded for the highly popular HBO Max series.
For Outstanding Comedy Series, Widow’s Bay beat out: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, and Shrinking
The 51-year-old Welsh actor Rhys won big as he earned Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy series for Widow’s Bay
He also earned Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me
Kate O’Flynn earned the first award of the night in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy category for Widow’s Bay
In the series she portrays Patricia Moyer, who is the eccentric assistant of Rhys’s character and is considered a social outcast among her former classmates who believe that she lied about being targeted by a serial killer known as the Boogeyman while in high school
Stephen Root earned Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy beating out Colman Domingo for The Four Seasons, Paul W. Downs for Hacks, Harrison Ford for Shrinking, Nick Offerman for Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Michael Urie for Shrinking, and Tyler James Williams for Abbott Elementary
The 74-year-old actor plays Wyck Crawford, an outspoken believer of the town’s supernatural history as he initially clashes with Rhys’s character over the latter’s refusal to believe in the island’s curse
The 55-year-old actor earned the win in the coveted Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category as he beat out: Sterling K. Brown for Paradise, Gary Oldman for Slow Horses, Mark Ruffalo for Task, and Rufus Sewell for The Diplomat.
On the series, he portrays Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch, who is the main protagonist of the show as he deals with trauma and PTSD alongside unresolved post-COVID stress.
Meanwhile, Rhea Seehorn earned one of the biggest wins of television’s biggest night and beat one of the biggest stars in Zendaya to earn the honor.
The 54-year-old actress triumphed in the Lead Actress in a Drama category at the Emmy Awards 2026 as she was recognized for her work in Pluribus.
Jean Smart earned her fifth Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy win in a row at the Emmy Awards 2026 on a night that featured a star-studded red carpet.
The 75-year-old talented actress was recognized for her work on Hacks, which just had its fifth and final season.
Rhea Seehorn earned one of the biggest wins of television’s biggest night and beat one of the biggest stars in Zendaya to earn the honor
The Pitt earned the top award of the night Outstanding Drama series on a night where it earned 25 nominations which was the most from any single series
Noah Wyle was the first to be awarded for The Pitt on a night where they earned 25 nominations which was the most from any single series
Jean Smart earned her fifth Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy win in a row
Sally Field earned Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her work in Remarkably Bright Creatures
Smart – who earned her eighth total Emmy in her 15th total nomination – was obviously emotional as her name was called and she was presented the honor by Zendaya.
Sally Field earned Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her work in Remarkably Bright Creatures.
The 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night.
Law & Order: SVU executive producer/star Mariska Hargitay served as host of the gala event, which marks the first time a woman has hosted the show in 15 years.
