Welsh actor Matthew Rhys has made Emmy Awards history after becoming the first performer to win two lead-acting Emmys in the same year, earning recognition for his performances in Widow’s Bay and The Beast in Me at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Rhys Wins Two Lead-Actor Emmys
Rhys first claimed the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for his role as Nile Jarvis in Netflix’s psychological thriller The Beast in Me. Later in the ceremony, he won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in Apple TV+’s Widow’s Bay.
The double victory placed Rhys in a rare position in Emmy history. His latest win
s also made him the first actor to win lead-acting Emmys across the drama, comedy and limited-series categories, following his 2018 victory for The Americans.
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Widow’s Bay Sets Emmy Record
Rhys’ success was part of a remarkable night for Widow’s Bay. The Apple TV+ horror-comedy became the most awarded comedy series in a single Emmy season, collecting 14 awards and surpassing the previous record of 13.
The series also won Outstanding Comedy Series, while Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root, writer Katie Dippold and director Hiro Murai were among its other winners.
Rhys Takes Home Three Emmys
Beyond his two acting victories, Rhys also shared in Widow’s Bay’s Outstanding Comedy Series win as a producer.
That brought his personal haul from the ceremony to three Emmys and his career total to four.
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Other Historic Moments at the 2026 Emmys
The 2026 ceremony also produced notable moments for several other television figures. Jean Smart won another Emmy for Hacks, while Allison Janney collected her eighth career Emmy for The Diplomat.
Rhea Seehorn won for Pluribus, while The Pitt retained the Outstanding Drama Series award.
Meanwhile, legendary actor Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in recognition of his longstanding philanthropic and humanitarian work.
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A Landmark Night for Matthew Rhys
For Rhys, however, the night will be remembered as a landmark achievement. His two lead-acting victories added a new chapter to the career of the Welsh star and established his place among performers who have made Emmy history.
