Welsh actor Matthew Rhys makes Emmy Awards history with double win

Welsh actor Matthew Rhys has made history at the Emmy Awards, becoming the first person to win two lead acting prizes in one night.

Rhys was recognised at the prestigious US ceremony for his roles in supernatural TV comedy Widow’s Bay and psychological thriller The Beast In Me.

On stage, Rhys dedicated his second award “to the great and good people of Wales, who were as much a nurture as anyone else”.

“We are a small but mighty nation. This is incredible,” he said, adding “Diolch yn fawr iawn” – which means “thank you very much” in Welsh.

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Other winners of the coveted US TV awards included Jean Smart, Allison Janney and Stephen Colbert, while there was an emotional tribute to Dolly Parton and a special humanitarian award for Michael J Fox.

Proud Rhys flies the flag

Rhys was named best lead actor in a limited series for The Beast In Me, then won best lead actor in a comedy for Widow’s Bay.

A small number of actors, including Alan Alda, Sally Field, John Goodman, Elisabeth Moss and Ted Danson, have been nominated for two lead acting prizes in the same year, but Rhys is the first to score a double win.

Backstage, he said: “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 follows a grieving author, played by Claire Danes, who becomes obsessed with a mysterious new neighbour suspected of murder.

Rhys said it was a “real shock” to win the award, adding: “Thank you for letting me join the mystery machine and bringing out the beast, you are an intimidating scene partner, but I’m grateful for all this.”

Later in the night, accepting the comedy actor prize for playing the mayor in Widow’s Bay, he thanked the family, friends and colleagues who supported his career, including his parents who “kicked me on to the stage at a very early age”.

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