Keri Russell Explains Her Stance on Marriage and Relationship with Matthew Rhys

Keri Russell has opened up about her decision not to marry her partner of over a decade, Matthew Rhys, describing the institution of marriage as 'antiquated.' The actress, 50, stated on the podcast 'Dear Chelsea' that she sees no need for a traditional marriage, a commitment she feels is already fulfilled by their shared family.

Russell and Rhys, 51, met while playing a married couple on the FX drama 'The Americans.' They have been together for more than 10 years and share a son, Sam, who is 10 years old, in addition to Russell's two older children from a previous marriage. Despite their long-term partnership, they have not married.

"I know for a lot of people, marriage is something different. People used to have to be married to have a credit card. We [women] can have credit cards now," Russell explained. She added, "I don't need my last name to go away. Like, I'm cool, if you want to be here, be here. If you don't, that's cool too."

Russell, who was previously married to carpenter Shane Deary from 2007 to 2013, believes that having children together constitutes a permanent commitment. "We have kids, so like, that's forever. To me, [marriage is] antiquated," she stated.

In the same interview, Russell addressed Rhys's Emmy Awards acceptance speeches from the previous month, where he did not thank her. Rhys won two awards, but Russell clarified that she had encouraged him to omit her name. "I said, take me off your plate. You don't have to thank me. I know you love me," she told host Chelsea Handler. "We don't have to thank each other. This is private."

Rhys had previously suggested in 2023 that marriage was still a possibility, attributing their lack of a wedding to timing and a lack of romantic initiative. "We just haven't gotten around to it. We have spoken about it, but the timing is never quite right. I should be more romantic, really," he had said.

Russell has also spoken about the value of independence within their relationship. She noted in a profile last year that she prefers to keep their finances separate, stating, "I enjoy the freedom of it."

This independence extends to their living arrangements and the amount of time they spend apart. Rhys is reportedly preparing to work in Britain for five months on the BBC drama 'Dragon Slayers,' and Russell described their frequent separations as a benefit. "We're in a heavy relationship, but I have this gift. We have this gift of being apart a lot. And that is the way to do it," she said.

Russell elaborated on the advantages of Rhys's extended absences, joking that she can enforce her own rules, such as an earlier bedtime, and maintain order in their home. "You know, it's probably more boring without him, but it's my rules," she remarked. "And then he comes back and everyone's so excited and we're excited. You know, being apart is nice."

Ideally, they aim to see each other every two weeks during these periods of separation, though Russell acknowledged this might not always be feasible. She also humorously commented that age has reduced the appeal of seeking new romantic relationships, noting that the prospect of intimacy with someone new sounds like "a lot of work."

Their relationship began intensely on the set of 'The Americans,' where they played undercover Soviet spies. "We were falling in love and staying up all night and having sex all the time and just wearing disguises," Russell recalled. "It was insanity. It was so fun and sneaky and sexy and so good."

When asked who initiated their romance, she replied, "I think I did."