Matthew Rhys made history at the Emmy Awards on Monday, securing two lead acting prizes in the same evening and becoming the first person to achieve this feat. The Welsh actor was recognized for his performances in the supernatural TV comedy "Widow's Bay" and the psychological thriller "The Beast In Me."
Upon accepting his second award, Rhys dedicated it "to the great and good people of Wales, who were as much a nurture as anyone else." He added, "We are a small but mighty nation. This is incredible," before saying "Diolch yn fawr iawn," which translates to "thank you very much" in Welsh.
Rhys was first named best lead actor in a limited series for his role in "The Beast In Me." Later, he won best lead actor in a comedy for his portrayal of the mayor in "Widow's Bay." While a few actors have been nominated for two lead acting prizes in the same year, Rhys is the first to win both.
Backstage, Rhys commented on his dual victories, stating, "I'm from a small country, and I'm glad we get moments to kind of put our flag on the map and say, 'we punch higher than our weight sometimes.'"
"The Beast In Me" centers on a grieving author, played by Claire Danes, who becomes fixated on a new neighbor suspected of murder. Rhys described his win as a "real shock" and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the project. For "Widow's Bay," he thanked his supporters, including his parents, who he said "kicked me on to the stage at a very early age."
His co-star in "Widow's Bay," Kate O'Flynn, also received an award, winning best supporting comedy actress for her role as Patricia. "I want to thank our mayor and all the residents of Widow's Bay, in front and behind the camera," O'Flynn said, referring to the show's fictional island setting.
Elsewhere at the ceremony, Jean Smart secured the award for best comedy actress for her role in the final season of "Hacks." This marked Smart's eighth Emmy win overall. Allison Janney also earned her eighth Emmy, winning best supporting actress in a drama series for "The Diplomat." Both Smart and Janney have now equaled the record for the most acting Emmy wins, alongside Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
The drama series "The Pitt" took home the award for best drama, and its lead actor, Noah Wyle, won best lead actor in a drama series for the second consecutive year.
Michael J. Fox was honored with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for his extensive advocacy and fundraising for Parkinson's disease research. The actor, diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 29, shared that while he initially kept his condition private, he came to understand that "accepting Parkinson's didn't mean I had to surrender to it." He emphasized the importance of showing up and helping others.
The ceremony also featured a tribute to the late country music star Dolly Parton, with actress Sally Field leading the homage and singer Reba McEntire performing. Field described Parton as "genuine, humble, supportive and blisteringly funny."
In other awards, Alan Cumming accepted the prize for best reality competition program for "The Traitors," humorously noting the show's theme of "treachery and betrayal" brought people together. He concluded his remarks by urging U.S. citizens to register to vote ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Stephen Colbert won best variety series for "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" during the presenter's final year hosting the program. He highlighted the value of late-night talk shows as an "incubator for young people to come in, work professionally, on a deadline, in collaboration."