During a podcast conversation with Chelsea Handler, the ‘Diplomat’ star detailed their chaotic onset beginnings, addressed Rhys’ recent Emmy speech omission, and explained why legal marriage remains unnecessary for their family.
Keri Russell offered an unvarnished look back at the clandestine beginnings of her relationship with longtime partner Matthew Rhys during an appearance on Chelsea Handler's "Dear Chelsea" podcast, recounting how the pair fell in love on the set of FX's Cold War drama "The Americans."
Speaking on the episode released Oct. 8, the 50-year-old actress revisited the dynamic that emerged more than a decade ago while portraying undercover KGB officers on the series. Russell shared that the production's intensity spilled into their private lives between takes.
The demanding espionage series, celebrated for its psychological suspense and elaborate disguise work, created an unexpected setting for their off-screen connection to flourish.
"We were like falling in love and staying up all night and like having sex all the time and just like wearing disguises, like, I'm f---ing [in] crazy wigs and like wearing pearls," Russell said on the podcast. "When have you ever worn pearls and like, f---ing in trailers and f---ing everywhere. I mean, it was insanity. It was so fun and sneaky, and sexy, and so good."
Although the performers first met briefly years earlier, the pair reunited professionally in 2012 to shoot the inaugural season of "The Americans." Dating rumors circulated late the next year, before the couple publicly confirmed their relationship in April 2014.
Over the subsequent decade, the actors built a quiet family life away from the camera. They share a son, Sam, born in May 2016. Russell also shares two older children, River and Willa, with former spouse Shane Deary.
Despite more than a decade together, Russell emphasized that she feels no desire to formalize their relationship through marriage, describing legal vows as unnecessary for their household.
"I've had a big party. I get to dress up all the time," Russell remarked, noting that industry ceremonies provide plenty of formal wear.
"People used to have to be married to have a credit card. We can have credit cards now," she said. "I don't need my last name to go away. I'm cool. If you wanna be here, be here. If you don't, that's cool too."
Russell explained that co-parenting represents a deeper commitment than signing paperwork. In her view, sharing a child creates a bond that inherently means "forever," while legal marriage strikes her as "antiquated."
The podcast conversation also turned to the 78th Annual Emmy Awards in September, where Rhys won for his roles in "Widow's Bay" and "The Beast In Me." When Rhys did not mention Russell during his acceptance speeches, viewers noted the omission.
Handler quipped that Russell should respond in kind during any future acceptance moment for Netflix's political drama "The Diplomat," suggesting she thank every former partner while omitting Rhys.
Russell clarified that she personally instructed Rhys beforehand to omit her name from his remarks, knowing the anxiety public speaking causes him.
"I said, 'Take me off your plate. Like, you don't have to thank me. I know you love me,'" Russell recalled. "There's so many people you have to thank. I don't care if you want to thank the dog walker. You do whatever you want to do. That's your minute. That's your 45 seconds. So I just said, 'Take me off your plate.' And we kind of said to each other, 'We don't have to thank each other.'"
The interview coincided with promotional work for the fourth season of "The Diplomat," where Russell stars as Kate Wyler, the American ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Reflecting on the role, the former "Felicity" star told People that playing a skilled yet deeply imperfect character brings continuous satisfaction.
"It is fun to play someone so smart, so funny, so fierce, who also does stupid s--- all the time," Russell said. "I love her frankness, I love her bossiness. I love how she is always getting herself into hot water. I mean, to lose in a drama as a character is good. To be constantly losing and messing things up, it's great. But I also love that she can pull it together and be presentable and put a dress on if she needs to."
Source:
Fox News Digital October 10, 2026
Apple Podcasts / iHeartPodcasts October 8, 2026