Keri Russell has opened up about the early stages of her relationship with longtime partner Matthew Rhys. She shared details on how their romance blossomed while filming the acclaimed FX spy thriller The Americans. Appearing on Chelsea Handler’s Dear Chelsea podcast, the 50-year-old actress reflected on the intensity of their early connection. She also discussed why they view marriage as unnecessary for their enduring bond.
Russell and Rhys initially crossed paths more than a decade prior to working together. They met briefly after a kickball party in Los Angeles when Rhys was in his mid-20s. Years later, the pair reunited in 2012 to star as deep-cover Soviet KGB agents Philip and Elizabeth Jennings in The Americans, which ran from 2013 to 2018. Their on-screen chemistry quickly translated into a real-life romance, though they managed to keep their relationship out of the public eye until April 2014.
Recalling the clandestine nature of their early relationship during the show’s initial seasons, Russell described a period marked by late nights, secrecy, and spontaneous encounters. Speaking previously with the New Yorker, Russell joked about how their romance began before admitting it developed slowly. She noted that it involved a lot of hesitation-thinking they shouldn’t-inevitably punctuated by a shared bottle of red wine.
Rhys, who had experienced a difficult on-set romance in his mid-20s, had initially sworn off workplace relationships. However, when history repeated itself in his mid-30s with Russell, he realized it was something he could not fight. The couple successfully kept their relationship hidden from their co-workers and producers for about a year. Eventually, a real-life burglary at Russell’s Brooklyn home accidentally leaked the news to the crew.
Despite playing married characters on television and welcoming their son, Sam, in 2016, Russell and Rhys have never married. Russell shares two older children-son River and daughter Willa-with her ex-husband, Shane Deary. Rhys famously joked during his 2018 Emmy acceptance speech that Russell threatened to punch him in the mouth if he ever proposed. Years later, the couple remains content with their unwed partnership, with Rhys explaining that they simply haven’t gotten around to it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys
How did Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys meet?
The couple first met over a decade before starring together, crossing paths at a kickball-and-beer party in Los Angeles. They reunited professionally in 2012 when they were cast as the leads in the FX series The Americans, where their real-life romance began.
Do Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys have children together?
Yes, they share one son together, Sam, who was born in 2016 between seasons of The Americans. Russell also has two children, River and Willa, from her previous marriage to Shane Deary.
Are Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys married?
No, the couple is not married. While Matthew Rhys has jokingly referenced marriage proposals in award acceptance speeches-noting that Russell jokingly threatened to punch him if he proposed-they remain happily unwed and focused on their long-term partnership.
How long were they able to keep their relationship a secret?
Russell and Rhys kept their relationship private on the set of The Americans for approximately a year. A police investigation into a burglary at Russell’s home inadvertently revealed to the show’s crew that they were together.
What other projects have they worked on together?
Aside from their six-season run on The Americans, the couple made a brief on-screen reunion when Rhys made a cameo appearance in the 2023 film Bear, which Russell starred in and Elizabeth Banks directed.
