Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys had amazing on-screen chemistry in The Americans, playing a married couple with some secrets. Their convincing connection in front of the camera soon led to a connection off camera as well. The two have been in a relationship since 2013 and have one child together.
Here’s their complete relationship timeline so far:
2002
Long before the two started dating, Rhys tried to date Russell. In 2017, they shared the story of that failed first meeting on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. Lis explained that they met at a kickball game in 2002, adding: “I got her number drunk.”
He left her a message before sobering up, but she didn’t reply. Russell claimed to have forgotten all about it until they met again on the set of The Americans almost 10 years later.
As she was eating lunch, Rhys reminded her, “She said, ‘You know, we’ve met before.’ She said, ‘No, we haven’t met yet.'” You said, “Yeah, at a kickball party 10 years ago.” The moment you said that, I said, “Of course I remember!” ”
Andy Cohen asked Rhys on the show if she was in love, to which Rhys replied, “Yes, absolutely.”
2012
That lunch took place in 2012, when the co-stars had been cast as Elizabeth and Philip Jennings on The Americans. In this political thriller, the Jennings are KGB spies living in Washington, DC. At the time, Russell was married to Shane Dearie, whom they married in 2007.
December 2013
In early 2013, Russell and Dearie separated. She and Reese were spotted walking together in a Brooklyn neighborhood later that year. That same month, the pair were spotted having lunch at ABC Kitchen, and a source told Page Six: “The way they looked together, you could tell they were a couple. They were very touching, drinking and laughing.”
January 2014
The pair appeared in a photo spread for GQ magazine in January 2014, in which Russell wore sexy lingerie. They had not yet confirmed their romantic relationship.
April 2014
In the spring of 2014, People magazine confirmed that Russell and Rhys were spotted together at New York City’s Public Theater for Steven Soderbergh’s play The Library.
January 2016
The two were rumored to be expecting a child in January 2016, and a source told People that it’s true and the two are “so excited.” Russell has two children with ex-husband Deary, River and Willa Deary, but this will be the couple’s first child together.
March 2016
Russell told The New York Times that the US accommodated her pregnancy by incorporating costume changes.
“A lot of people were wearing winter coats,” she joked. “We justified it by saying, “I have so many things going on in my head and I keep my coat on in my bedroom because I’m worried.” We had a bunch of giant salad bowls.”
In the same month, the two were spotted cycling around New York.
May 2016
The couple welcomed son Sam in May 2016.
August 2016
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell and Rhys talked about filming the intimate scenes.
“It’s easy to feel comfortable being physically together, so that’s OK,” Lis said.
Russell added, “On our show, I’m in a position of power. It’s about getting information from that person or making them feel a certain way. And that can be empowering.”
January 2017
At the FX Television Critics Association press day, Rhys said their relationship made him more protective of her on set.
“Last year, when I directed the first episode and directed Keri for the first time, she was pregnant, so we were very cautious in our approach, and I mean that in a purely physical sense,” he explained.
Russell added, “Obviously, when you’ve worked so closely together for so many years, there’s an incredible shorthand and you know what the other person is thinking before they think it. I was and still have a lot of respect for Matthew’s work on this show.”
June 2017
Reese and Russell spoke to People about their need for “alone time” when they’re out and about in order to maintain their relationships.
“She has the patience of a saint, so that helps,” Rhys said. “That’s basically it.”
Rhys added that red wine also helps smooth things out.
“A great leveler, a great equalizer. After a half bottle of good, solid red wine, everything is so much better.”
July 2017
Before the final season of The Americans, Russell told People that he never imagined the show would make such a difference in his life: “It’s all been a positive change, and I’m very, very grateful.”
But it felt like the moment the show ended.
“It’s going to be sad, but in a way it’s also the right thing to do,” she said. “It’s so great to have someone nearby, whether it’s a funny moment, a really difficult moment, or a really ordinary moment. Like, ‘I’m out, can you pick up some laundry soap on the way home?’ or ‘I’m out of milk.'”
July 2017
Prior to filming the final season, Rees took Russell to Wales to introduce him to his family in Cardiff, where Russell was born.
September 2018
Reese won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018. In his acceptance speech, Rhys joked that his girlfriend warned him not to propose on stage, saying: “And finally, to the woman who really earned me this award, who stands in front of me every day and just puts up with it, she said, ‘If you propose to me, I’ll punch you in the mouth and clean it.'”
(That night, producer Glenn Weiss proposed to his girlfriend after winning.)
November 2018
Ms Rhys told the Irish News about a previous trip she took to Wales with Sam and Russell, and explained how she tries to connect her son with her culture.
“I only speak Welsh to him,” he said. “He can answer and understand at the moment.”
He also suggested he would “force” Sam to support Wales in the Six Nations Championship as soon as he understood rugby.
January 2019
In 2019, Rhys and Russell were nominated for a Golden Globe Award for their role in The Americans. During E! Live from the red carpet pre-show, they joked about what would happen if they both didn’t win.
“We talked about whether or not either of us would actually win,” Reese said.
Russell shared his plans to “break up.”
Rhys added, “Well, if you win, I’m gone. If I win, you’re gone, too.”
April 2020
During an interview with Shape magazine for a 2020 cover story, Russell talked a little about his home life, saying he sacrificed filming so he could be with his kids.
“They say you can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once,” she said. “I really think that’s true. Sometimes you live for your career, and sometimes you live to make cakes.”
May 2021
Rhys told Deadline details of the time she spoke to Sam in Welsh.
“I can only speak Welsh to him and he understands everything I say,” Ms Rhys said. “He always answers in English, and sometimes he throws in a few words in Welsh, but I think it’s to please me. But he has a very clear understanding of what daddy says and what mommy says.”
September 2021
They attended the 2021 Emmy Awards and posted on the red carpet together.
March 2023
Russell and Reese both starred in 2023’s Cocaine Bear. Reese told The AV Club that he wanted to appear in the film just to join his wife and her friend, director Elizabeth Banks.
“I knew[Keri Russell]so I shamelessly jumped at my partner’s heels, and I read the script and just said, ‘Who’s going to play that? That little fun part, those first few seconds?'” (Keri) says, “I don’t know.” I said, ‘Ask your bank,'” Lis said.
January 2024
The couple attended the 81st Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles, where Russell was nominated. Rhys told Variety and ET’s digital pre-show that Russell won her first Golden Globe 25 years ago for “Felicity.”
He added: “(I’m) incredibly proud, always but especially tonight.”
May 2024
They attended a reading of “Dear Mr. Thomas: A New Play for Voices” at the 92nd Street Y on May 14th.
October 2024
In an interview with Variety, Russell reflected on falling in love with her husband on set.
“I was in love with Matthew,” Russell says. “We were in hot, heavy love and filming spy stuff at night wearing disguises and wigs. I mean, it was a really fun, sexy time. It was so much fun, oh my gosh.”
She also explained how he discussed working more from home when he decided to appear on his new show, The Diplomat.
“I made the birthday cupcakes,” she told him. “I’ve done all the doctor’s appointments, all the scary nights, all the laundry. And I’ve been there. I’ve had back massages, but I want three months, maybe a year, of not doing it. Now it’s someone else’s turn to pick up the loose stuff.” And he did. And it was difficult. Matthew was also shooting at the time, but I think it was difficult because he was trying to jump back and forth. And I thought, ‘Oh, that’s a big deal – being a mother.’
February 2025
They attended the 30th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica on February 7th.
September 2025
On September 14th, they walked the red carpet at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
October 2025
The couple attended the 2025 Brooklyn Bridge Park Gala at Pier 2 on October 8th, where they posed for a photo with Paul Rudd.
