Matthew Rhys became the first person to win two lead acting Emmy awards in a single night. He claimed the prize for best lead actor in a limited series for the psychological thriller The Beast In Me, and best lead actor in a comedy for his work in Widow’s Bay. Rhys described the achievement as a surreal experience, noting he felt intimidated while collecting the awards in the presence of industry figures including Gary Oldman.
Rhys dedicated his second award to Wales, describing the nation as a source of nurture and inspiration. He spoke Welsh during his acceptance remarks, expressing gratitude in his native language. The actor also revealed that he recently provided the Welsh-language voice for Han Solo, a character originally portrayed by Harrison Ford in the Star Wars franchise. Rhys explained he did not inform Ford of this role during their encounter at the awards ceremony.
Early in his career, Rhys faced significant employment challenges. Following his 2000 appearance in a West End production of The Graduate alongside Kathleen Turner, he struggled to find work for nearly two years. During this period, he explored the possibility of joining the British Army after meeting with a military officer, but was ultimately rejected by the service.
Rhys relocated to Hollywood in 2006, where he established close ties with fellow Welsh actors Michael Sheen and Ioan Gruffudd, with whom he lived. The group, which Rhys affectionately termed the “LA Tafia,” maintained their Welsh cultural connections through language, shared interests in rugby, and food preferences. Rhys met actress Keri Russell at a kickball game in 2002, though they did not become romantically involved until working together on the television series The Americans in 2013, beginning their relationship in 2014 and welcoming son Sam in 2016.
Rhys maintains several personal interests outside his acting work. He owns a 1939 wooden cruiser boat named Rarebit, after a traditional Welsh cheese dish, which he has attempted to sell but now hopes to preserve through restoration efforts at Brooklyn Boatworks. The actor currently resides in New York, where he regularly speaks Welsh at home. He is set to appear in the upcoming BBC drama Dragon Slayers, filming in Wales in October, portraying events from the career of former Sunday Times editor Sir Harry Evans.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI