Matthew Rhys makes Emmy history with double win for Widow's Bay, The Beast in Me

Matthew Rhys made Emmy history on Monday, September 14, becoming the first male actor to win two lead acting categories in the same year at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. The 51-year-old actor took home both Outstanding Lead Actor trophies he was nominated for, winning for Widow’s Bay and The Beast in Me.

Rhys won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Mayor Tom Loftis in Widow’s Bay. He later won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for playing Nile Jarvis in The Beast in Me. His second win came before the halfway point of the ceremony at the Peacock Theater.

Rhys received a standing ovation after his second victory and thanked his Widow’s Bay co-stars and crew, before acknowledging his family and his native Wales.

In his acceptance speech, he praised showrunner Katie Dippold for her "depraved and twisted mind." He then added, "Her genius really does live in the recesses of her disturbed biran. [This win] is also because of my hero Hiro Marai, who helmed us so beautifully and deftly."

Thanking the executives behind the series, including Apple's Jamie Erlicht and Zach Van Amburg, his agent and his sister, he said, "the great and good people of Wales, who were as much a nurtuerer as anyone else. We are a small but mighty nation. This is incredible."

“Obviously my parents – they just kicked me onto a stage at a very early age,” he said. “My sister... thank you for all the sage words and patient listening. Finally, to the great and good people of Wales who were just as much a nurturer as anyone else, we are a small but mighty nation," he added. Matthew Rhys' speech after making history as the first man to win 2 lead acting Emmys in one night.“To the great & good people of Wales we are a small but mighty nation!” pic.twitter.com/YBj1D4uSUs— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 15, 2026In the comedy category, Rhys was competing against Riz Ahmed for Bait, Jason Bateman for Black Rabbit, Charlie Hunnam for Monster: The Ed Gein Story and Oscar Isaac for Beef. In the limited series category, he beat Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for Wonder Man, Steve Carell for Rooster, Jason Segel for Shrinking and Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building.

With the two wins, Rhys is now a three-time Emmy winner and has received eight nominations over his career. His previous Emmy came in 2018, when he won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Philip Jennings in The Americans.

Speaking about his nominations last month, Rhys told People, “It’s everything you dream for. And then when it happens, you still can’t quite believe it.”

The actor had also said he would not “necessarily” prepare an acceptance speech in advance, although he had a few talking points in mind. “I was very fortunate enough to win an Emmy before, and I missed out on some people I didn’t thank,” he said. “So if — the very big if — I win, I will hopefully remedy that.”

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, were held at the Peacock Theater and aired on NBC and Peacock from 8 pm ET on September 14. It streamed on JioHotstar.- EndsPublished By: K JananiPublished On: Sep 15, 2026 08:39 IST