Matthew Rhys says he is ‘slightly giddy’ after making Emmy history with two Leading Actor wins

Matthew Rhys has made television history at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the first performer to win two Emmys for leading performances in the same year.

Matthew Rhys scripts history as he wins leading actor awards in two different categories

The Welsh actor took home the Outstanding Lead Actor award in a Limited ot Anthology Series or Movie for Netflix's The Beast in Me, before adding the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series prize for Apple TV's Widow's Bay.

The two victories came in separate genres, making the achievement particularly unusual.

Rhys played Nile Jarvis in The Beast in Me, a psychological thriller centred on a writer drawn into an unsettling relationship with a powerful real-estate figure. His second winning performance came in a very different setting.

In Widow's Bay, he plays Mayor Tom Loftis in Apple TV's horror-comedy series, which became one of the biggest winners of the night.

The achievement goes beyond the double victory itself. Rhys had already won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmy in 2018 for his role as Philip Jennings in FX's The Americans. By adding the limited series and comedy prizes this year, he became the first performer to win lead acting Emmys across drama, comedy, and limited series categories.

A rare win in the history of Emmys

The Television Academy confirmed Rhys’ record, describing his two victories as a first for the Emmys. His win for The Beast in Me came earlier in the ceremony, followed later by his victory for Widow’s Bay.The result was also significant because the two performances demanded markedly different approaches. The Beast in Me placed Rhys in a darker, more psychologically charged story, while Widow’s Bay allowed him to work within a horror-comedy setting.

His second win formed part of a remarkable night for Widow’s Bay. The Apple TV series won six awards during the televised ceremony and eight more at the Creative Arts Emmys, taking its total to 14. That made it the most awarded programme at this year's Emmys and set a new record for the most wins by a comedy series, surpassing the previous record of 13 set by The Studio last year.

For Rhys, the latest victories add another chapter to an Emmy career that began with The Americans. His 2018 win established him as a leading dramatic performer, but his 2026 results demonstrate a broader range.

He has now won the industry's top lead acting prize in three separate categories, something no performer had previously achieved.

Speaking after his wins, Rhys paid tribute to Wales and his family. He praised “the great and good people of Wales” and described the country as “a small but mighty nation”. He also thanked his parents and sister during his acceptance speech.

During a conversation with the media after his wins, Rhys said, “I am slightly giddy and a little bit dizzy. I genuinely can’t believe it. I hope to reflect on it tomorrow. At the moment, I genuinely can’t quite believe what has happened.”

The Beast in Me is available for streaming on Netflix and Widow's Bay is out on Apple TV.