Photo: Rich Fury/Getty
While playing married KGB spies on the set ofThe Americans,Keri RussellandMatthew Rhys' on-screen chemistry translated into a real-life romance.
The actors have been romantically linked since late 2013. After Russell’s separation from her now ex-husband Shane Deary — with whom she shares a son and daughter, River andWilla Lou— fans suspected it was only a matter of time before Russell and Rhys coupled up off-screen.
When asked about the rumors that he was dating Russell, Rhys told PEOPLE in March 2014, “That’s the best [rumor].”
Weeks later, PEOPLE confirmed their relationship after the two were spotted on a date at The Public Theater in New York City. In May 2016, Rhys and Russell welcomed their first son together, Sam.
Here’s everything to know about Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys' relationship.
2002: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys meet for the first time
Toni Anne Barson/WireImage
It wasn’t necessarily love at first sight for Russell and Rhys. In 2017, the pair recalled their first encounter onWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, with Rhys explaining he initiallyasked Russell out after a kickball gamein 2002.
“I very drunkenly asked for her number,” said Rhys.
The two met up in a parking lot after a kickball party, where they talked, and Russell asked Rhys to help open her beer. Rhys remembered he left Russell a drunken message — and she didn’t return the call.
Russell forgot about the encounter until the two started filmingTheAmericansnearly a decade later.
She reminded Rhys, “… at a lunch, you said, ‘You know, we’ve met before, I said, ‘No, we haven’t.’ You said, ‘Yeah, 10 years ago at a kickball party.’ As soon as you said that, I went, ‘Of course I remember that!’ "
2012: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys reconnect onThe Americans
DISCIULLO/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Russell and Rhys later reconnected in 2012 — this time as costars — when they were cast as Elizabeth and Philip Jennings onThe Americans,a drama about KGB spies living in suburban Washington, D.C.
During their 2017 appearance onWWHL, hostAndy Cohenasked Rhys if they fell in love on the show.
“Yes, absolutely,” Rhys said
December 2013: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys spark dating rumors
Roughly one month after Russell announced her separation from Deary, she and Rhys were spotted walking around her Brooklyn Heights neighborhood in New York, casually shopping and looking at furniture on the street.
A source told PEOPLE that the costars “looked very much like a couple,” adding, “They were laughing and walking closely together.”
January 23, 2014: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys pose forGQ
Though they had yet to confirm their relationship, Rhys and Russell further proved their off-screen chemistry in a provocative spread forGQin January 2014.In one photo, Russell posed with her leg over Rhys’ shoulder.
April 1, 2014: PEOPLE confirms Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are dating
Taylor Hill/Getty
After months of speculation,PEOPLE confirmed the rumors were true— Russell and Rhys were an item. The pair were spotted on a date at The Public Theater in New York City, watchingSteven Soderbergh’s playThe Library.
January 2016: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys announce they’re expecting their first child together
Tal Rubin/GC Images
During a Television Critics Association panel in January, reporters asked Rhys how he felt about his impending fatherhood.
“As soon as I find out if it’s verified or true, I’ll be over the moon,” he joked.
A friend of the couple told PEOPLE at the time of the announcement that Russell and Rhys were “thrilled.”
“You could do it right now!” Lauer suggested.
“We had a boy,” Russell shared. “[His name is] Sam. He’s so good. He’s big and fat and nice,” before adding that Rhys was doing “so well” as a new dad.
August 4, 2016: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys discuss filming sex scenes
During a joint interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Russell and Rhys discussed filming their steamy scenes forThe Americans.
“There’s that immediate thing where, like,physically you’re comfortable together, and so that’s fine,” Rhys toldThe Hollywood Reporter.
The actor also admitted he gets protective of Russell during intimate scenes.
Russell shared that the show’s depiction of sex felt right to her, saying, “In our show, I’m in a place of power: It’s to get information from that person or to make that person feel a certain way. And that can be empowering.”
January 12, 2017: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys discuss working together
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
Rhys opened up again about working with Russell during FX’s Television Critics Association press day in January 2017, admitting that his care and concern for Russell impact his choices on set.
“Last year, when I directed my first episode and directed Keri for the first time, she was pregnant, soI was very cautious in my approach, and I mean that purely physically,” he recalled.
Russell added that their closeness makes communicating when filming together easier.
“Obviously, working with anyone any amount of years this closely, there is such an incredible shorthand, and you kind of know what the other is thinking before they think it,” she said. “I have always and still do respect Matthew’s work on the show so much.”
June 2, 2017: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys share the key to their relationship
With countless hours spent together on set, Rhys and Russell stressed the importance of alone time, telling PEOPLE in June 2017 that it was “absolutely” necessary.
“She has the patience of a saint, so that helps,” Rhys said. “That is basically it.”
Rhys also joked that red wine helped too. “The great leveler, the great equalizer. Everything is so much better after a good, solid half-bottle of red wine!”
June 5, 2017: Keri Russell talks about parenting with Matthew Rhys
When it comes to imparting wisdom to her children, Russell told PEOPLE she likes to stick to the basics.
“I’m just starting with, ‘Don’t be a jerk,’ " she said.
She continued, “You do the best you can every single day, and some days are bad days. I feel like people need to remember that more.”
July 12, 2017: Keri Russell says she’ll miss working with Matthew Rhys
J. Kempin/Getty
Ahead ofThe Americans' sixth and final season, Russell opened up about what she would miss about working with Rhys.
“It will be sad, but it feels kind of right, too,” she said. “There’s something so great abouthaving someone so close for funny momentsor really hard moments or really mundane moments, like ‘Can you pick up laundry soap on your way home because we’re out?’ or ‘We’re out of milk.’ "
July 2017: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys visit his family in Wales
Before returning to set to film the final season ofThe Americans,Rhys and Russell traveled to Wales for a two-week trip to introduce their son Sam to Cardiff-born Rhys' extended family.
Rhys later opened up about instilling Welsh culture in New York-born son.
“I speak to him solely in Welsh,” hetoldThe Irish Newsin November 2018. “He can answer and understand at the moment.”
September 17, 2017: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys share a sweet moment on the red carpet
Rachel Murray/Getty
AtVanity Fairand FX’s pre-Emmys celebration in Los Angeles, Rhys paused on the red carpet to fix Russell’s hair. Photographers captured the sweet moment of Rhys playing makeshift hairstylist for a beaming Russell.
April 6, 2018: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys fail at couples trivia onWHHL
Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
While Russell and Rhys might know each other’s deepest secrets, they still have some ground to cover — something they figured out during atrivia game onWWHL.
First, Russell was asked to pinpoint what Rhys found most irritating about her. Sheguessed it was that “[she says] ‘bunch,’ " but Rhys said it’s when she leaves hair in the bathtub.
Rhys was then tasked with guessing Russell’s favorite way to spend time with him. He guessed her answer was dancing, but she said it was drinking wine and watching documentaries.
The two improved as the game continued — Russell accurately guessed Rhys' celebrity crush was Elisabeth Shue, and Rhys knew Russell’s favorite food was pasta.
September 17, 2018: Keri Russell jokingly threatens to punch Matthew Rhys if he publicly proposes
During the 2018Emmy Awards, when Rhys won for outstanding lead actor in a drama series, he revealed that Russell had made it clear that his acceptance speech wasnotan opportunity for him to pop the question — unlike award-winning producerGlenn Weiss, who hadpublicly proposed to his girlfriendwhile accepting his Emmy earlier in the night.
“[Russell] said, ‘If you propose to me, I willpunch you clean in the mouth,’ " Rhys joked in his acceptance speech.
The camera then panned to the actress, who smirked and shrugged.
May 15, 2018: Matthew Rhys shares his favorite thing about working with Keri Russell
Mike Coppola/Getty
Although Rhys has said that working with a significant other is challenging, he admitted there are plenty of silver linings.
“Simple things like learning lines … that helps because you can run them together late at night. You can ask the other person what they think because they are so informed about the show,” he told PEOPLE.
January 6, 2019: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys joke about breaking up over Golden Globes outcome
Jerod Harris/Getty
Russell and Rhys both receivedGolden Globenominations in 2019 for their performances onThe Americans. During theE! Live from the Red Carpetpre-show, the couple let it slip that they have a friendly rivalry and a plan for how they’d handle the night’s outcome.
“We’ve discussed that, whether, in fact, one of us wins,” Rhys said.
“We break up,” Russell said, with Rhys adding, “Yeah, if you win, I’m gone. If I win, you’re gone.”
However,Sandra OhandRichard Maddenultimately went home with the awards for best actress and best actor in a drama series, respectively.
April 2020: Keri Russell talks about Sunday family dinners with Matthew Rhys
George Pimentel/Getty
In 2020, Russell and Rhys gave a rare glimpse into their home life, which included hot water with lemon before bed and a hearty Sunday dinner with their children.
“I usually do a roast chicken and vegetables, and maybe a guilty pleasure like Yorkshire pudding,” she toldShapein an April 2020 cover story.
September 19, 2021: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys attend the Emmys
The couple walked the Emmys red carpet together in 2021.The Diplomatstar wore a sheer, sequined gown was feather sleeves while Rhys donned a classic black tux.
March 2, 2023: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys reunite on-screen inCocaine Bear
“I unashamedly jumped on my partner’s coattails because I knew [Keri Russell] … and I read the script, and I simply said, ‘Who’s playing that? That little fun part, a few seconds in the beginning?’ [Keri] goes, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘Ask Banks,’ " Rhystold The A.V. Club.
Even though Russell told Rhys an actor had already been cast for the part, he insisted she check with Banks.
Ultimately, his persistence paid off. Rhys scored the role of Andrew C. Thornton II, the former police officer turned drug smuggler who dumped cocaine while parachuting from an airplane, asThe New York Timesreported.
April 12, 2023: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys celebrate the 10th anniversary ofThe Americans
In April 2023, the cast ofThe Americansreunited in honor of the FX series' 10th anniversary.
While speaking to PEOPLE at the event, the couple recalled one of Rhys' most memorable alter-egos from the show: Fernando.
“There was one character called Fernando that I enjoyed, just because of … his Spanish disposition … his wig, mustache, goatee, beard, Spanish accent,” Rhys explained.
“I think we all enjoyed,” Russel remarked of the disguise.
January 7, 2024: Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys attend the Golden Globes
Amy Sussman/Getty
“[I’m] incredibly proud. Always — but especially tonight,” he said.
source: people.com
