Matthew Rhys, a Welsh actor known for roles in "Widow's Bay" on Apple TV and "The Beast in Me" on Netflix, as well as for his performance in season 2 of "Presumed Innocent" alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, has been named best actor twice at the 2026 Emmy Awards. He received the award for his role as mayor Tom Loftis in "Widow's Bay" and for his portrayal of Nile Jarvis in "The Beast in Me." Rhys, who is 51 years old, has been recognized for his acting since winning the best male performance award at the 2018 Emmy Awards for his role in "The Americans." Despite these accolades, he remains largely unknown to the general public, often responding to introductions with self-deprecating humor, such as stating he has suffered from an identity crisis his whole life. Rhys, who grew up speaking Welsh and is the son of teachers and the brother of a BBC journalist, is known for his modesty and humor in interviews. He often tells anecdotes rather than talking about himself and avoids grand statements. He is also known for his dedication to his work as an actor and to Wales, often citing his Welsh roots in his interviews. He insists on speaking only Welsh to his 15-year-old son, even though the latter speaks English to his American mother. Rhys began his acting career with a role in a Welsh film where he won the Bafta (Welsh) for best actor. He later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where he was admitted after playing Elvis Presley in a musical. He has appeared in various productions, including the series "Brothers and Sisters," where he played Kevin Walker for five seasons, and "The Americans," where he played a Soviet spy. This role earned him recognition from his peers and his first Emmy Award. Rhys has appeared in big productions such as Steven Spielberg's "Pentagon Papers" and independent films like "Mr. Rogers" and series like "Perry Mason." In "Perry Mason," he played a character far from the invincible detective popularized by television in the 1960s. He has also been known for his humor, including a running gag on the set of "Perry Mason" about his difficulty pronouncing the American "r" and jokes about his almond-shaped eyelids, which he says lead directors to think of him only for sinister roles. Rhys has also shared humorous anecdotes from his career, such as missing a James Bond audition due to a joke and being caught in a burglary with his future wife, Keri Russell. He has been praised by Tom Hanks for his listening quality and ability to build scenes with his partners rather than trying to attract attention to himself. Rhys has cited his favorite movie as "Do the Right Thing" by Spike Lee, which he saw as a young boy growing up in Wales. He also remembers a poster of Richard Burton that he had pinned to his wall in his room in Cardiff as a child. Rhys continues to cite his native land whenever he appears somewhere and remains an adopted New Yorker.