Keri Russell revealed on a podcast that she and Matthew Rhys had frequent intimate encounters while wearing their character disguises on the set of The Americans. The actress also discussed why the long-term partners have no plans to marry after 13 years together.
Keri Russell Recalls Steamy Encounters in Disguise on The Americans Set
While appearing on the Dear Chelsea podcast, Keri Russell shared candid details about the passionate beginnings of her relationship with her longtime partner, Matthew Rhys. The two actors starred together as deep-cover KGB spies Philip and Elizabeth Jennings in the FX period drama The Americans, which ran for six seasons from 2013 to 2018.
Russell, 50, described how their off-screen romance flourished while filming the early seasons of the spy series. She noted that their long work hours and frequent costume changes created an unconventional backdrop for a new relationship. Russell also revealed to Chelsea Handler that she made the first move on Rhys, although the actor stated during a 2017 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that he asked her out following a kickball game in 2002.
We were falling in love and staying up all night and having sex all the time and just wearing disguises, like, I’m fucking [in] crazy wigs and wearing pearls. When have you ever worn pearls and [been] fucking in trailers and fucking everywhere. I mean, it was insanity. It was so fun and sneaky, and sexy, and so good.
Keri Russell, via Hollywood Reporter
The couple originally crossed paths briefly at a kickball tournament after-party in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, where Rhys left a famously drunken voicemail on her answering machine. They did not reconnect, however, until they were cast opposite one another in the Cold War thriller in 2012. Their professional relationship turned romantic, and they went public with their romance in April 2014, roughly one year after their show premiered. For a period, they kept their romance hidden at work until a burglary at Rhys’ apartment inadvertently outed them to coworkers when the New York Police Department returned stolen items on the set of The Americans.
Why Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys Have No Plans to Marry After 13 Years
Despite being together for over a decade and sharing a 10-year-old son named Sam, Russell explained to podcast host Chelsea Handler that she and Rhys see no need to walk down the aisle.
Russell was previously married to director Shane Deary for nearly seven years before their separation in the summer of 2013 and subsequent divorce. They share two children, River and Willa. With Rhys, she feels that raising a child together establishes an unbreakable lifelong bond.
People used to be married to have a credit card. We can have credit cards now. I don’t need my last name to go away,
Russell said during the interview, as reported by Page Six. She added, I’m cool. If you wanna be here, be here. If you don’t, that’s cool too.
Rhys previously acknowledged her boundary during his acceptance speech at the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards, joking that she threatened to punch him if he ever proposed. Their stance on marriage remains unchanged, with Russell emphasizing that their shared family represents a permanent commitment. Elsewhere in the conversation, Russell praised Rhys for his dedication to everyday parenting responsibilities, describing him among their friends as the most “mom dad.”
The Emmy Silence Pact and Managing Life Apart in Brooklyn
During her podcast appearance, Russell also addressed public curiosity surrounding Rhys’ failure to thank her during his acceptance speeches at the 2026 Emmy Awards last month. For Widow’s Bay, Rhys secured the prize for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, while also taking home Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me. Russell herself was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom Kate Wyler in Netflix’s The Diplomat, but lost to Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn.
Russell explained that she deliberately released him from any obligation to mention her because he was exceptionally nervous about public speaking. She recalled telling him a few days before the ceremony to take her off his plate and use his limited stage time however he wished.
The couple balances their high-profile careers with family life in Brooklyn, though their acting projects frequently require time apart. As Rhys prepared for a five-month stint working in the United Kingdom, Russell reflected on the routine she maintains during his absences.
The house is mine. The bed is mine. The rules are mine,
Russell told Handler on the podcast, noting that she sets a strict 9 p.m. bedtime for the household when she is managing the children alone, according to AOL.
Starring in the fourth season of Netflix’s hit series The Diplomat, Russell currently brings Kate Wyler to life—a role she finds particularly enjoyable because her character blends intelligence, humor, and toughness while frequently making poor choices.
When Rhys returns from his work commitments, Russell noted that everyone in the household is excited to see him. She also enjoys ordinary routines that travel can interrupt, including school runs, birthday parties, and spending time with friends she has known since she was a teenager.