Updated

Updated · Fox News · Oct 10

Keri Russell Shares 2012 Romance Details With Matthew Rhys, Says Marriage Feels Antiquated

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Oct 10

Keri Russell Shares 2012 Romance Details With Matthew Rhys, Says Marriage Feels Antiquated

Q: Why did this actress explicitly ban her partner from thanking her during his major award acceptance speech?

Keri Russell told Matthew Rhys not to thank her because she wanted to reduce the pressure on him during a high-stress acceptance speech. Russell said on the *Dear Chelsea* podcast that Rhys was especially anxious about having to speak if he won, so she explicitly told him, “Take me off your plate. You don’t have to thank me. I know you love me.” Her point was that an Emmy speech is brief and stressful, and the winner should use those few seconds however they want. She also said the couple had an understanding that they do not need to publicly thank each other. In her view, their relationship is private, and award speeches are for whoever the winner chooses to acknowledge. She said, in effect, that it was “his minute” and “his 45 seconds.” Russell also suggested experience played a role. She noted that Rhys had previously faced criticism over people he did not mention in an earlier Emmy speech, and she considered that reaction “crazy,” “stupid,” and “lame.” By removing herself from the list, she was trying to spare him one more thing to worry about. So the ban was not a sign of tension. It was a deliberate, supportive move meant to ease his nerves and keep their relationship out of the public performance of an awards speech.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 10

On Chelsea Handler’s podcast, Keri Russell described the start of her relationship with Matthew Rhys during 2012 filming of “The Americans” as secretive, sexual and “insanity.”
Russell said the pair were falling in love while working on the show, reconnecting on set before their relationship became public in 2014.
The 50-year-old actress also said she does not feel a need to marry Rhys, calling marriage somewhat antiquated and saying sharing their son Sam already means “forever” to her.
Russell separately defended Rhys over his recent Emmy speech omission, saying she had told him in advance he did not need to thank her if he won.