Welsh actor Matthew Rhys made Emmy history by becoming the first performer to win two major acting awards during the same ceremony.
Rhys was honored for his performances in the supernatural comedy “Widow’s Bay” and the psychological thriller “The Beast in Me.”
He first won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for his role in “The Beast in Me,” before taking home another award later in the evening for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Widow’s Bay.”
“We are a small but powerful nation”
During his second acceptance speech, Rhys dedicated the award to Wales and its people.
“To the great and wonderful people of Wales, who have been as much a part of shaping me as anyone else,” he said.
“We are a small but powerful nation. This is incredible,” Rhys added before ending his speech in Welsh with “Diolch yn fawr iawn,” meaning “thank you very much.”
The actor later said he was proud to come from a small country, adding that moments like this allow Wales to demonstrate that its influence can extend far beyond its size.
A new Emmy record
Several major performers, including Alan Alda, Sally Field, John Goodman, Elisabeth Moss and Ted Danson, had previously been nominated in two major acting categories during the same year.
Rhys, however, became the first to win both.
He attended the ceremony with his partner, actress Keri Russell, who was also among the nominees.
In “The Beast in Me,” Rhys plays a mysterious neighbor who becomes the focus of a grieving writer, portrayed by Claire Danes, after she becomes increasingly suspicious of him and his possible connection to a murder.
Rhys described the victory as a genuine surprise and thanked Danes for giving him the opportunity to be part of the project.
Kate O’Flynn also takes home an Emmy
Another British winner was Kate O’Flynn, Rhys’s co-star in “Widow’s Bay.” She won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Patricia.
The series centers on a fictional island dealing with a centuries-old curse. During her acceptance speech, O’Flynn thanked the show’s producers for trusting her with the role and described it as “the role of a lifetime.”
Jean Smart and Allison Janney tie Emmy record
Another major moment came when Jean Smart and Allison Janney added to their impressive Emmy collections.
Smart won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the fifth and final season of “Hacks.” It marked her fifth Emmy for the series and eighth overall.
Minutes later, Janney also claimed her eighth career Emmy, winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for “The Diplomat.”
The victories put Smart and Janney level with the record for the most Emmy wins by an actress, alongside Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Janney said she was genuinely shocked by the result, particularly because she was competing against several of the leading performers from medical drama “The Pitt.”
“The Pitt” takes the top drama prize
“The Pitt” won Outstanding Drama Series, one of the night’s most prestigious awards. Its star Noah Wyle also won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the second consecutive year.
“I’m a child of Hollywood. I grew up in front of the television, and movie theaters were my places of worship,” Wyle said during his speech.
“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do, and this is the only club I’ve ever wanted to belong to. Thank you for letting me in,” he added.
Meanwhile, Rhea Seehorn earned the first Emmy of her career, winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in “Pluribus.”
The Apple TV+ series follows a character who discovers that a mysterious virus has affected almost everyone on Earth, leaving them under a form of collective mind control.
