Widow’s Bay star Matthew Rhys makes Emmy Awards history after ‘incredible’ win

Matthew Rhys has made Emmy Awards history after becoming the first star in 78 years to win two lead acting prizes in the same night.

The 51-year-old Welsh actor was recognised for his roles in supernatural comedy Widow’s Bay and psychological thriller The Beast In Me at the US television awards.

The first of his prize was for best lead actor in a limited series for The Beast In Me, before he also picked up best lead actor in a comedy for Widow’s Bay.

Accepting his second award, Rhys said: ‘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.’

Speaking in Welsh, he added: ‘Diolch yn fawr iawn,’ which translates to ‘thank you very much’.

Backstage, the actor added: ‘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”.’

Elsewhere on the night, Widow’s Bay – which follows a small town cursed for centuries – dominated the awards by winning 14 of 19 nominations.

Rhys’ Widow’s Bay co-star Kate O’Flynn won best supporting comedy actress for her role as Patricia.

The Bury-born actress described the part as ‘the role of a lifetime’ and thanked the show for trusting ‘this Lancashire lass’ to play the character.

Jean Smart also won best comedy actress for Hacks, taking her fifth Emmy for the Hollywood satire and eighth overall.

Also making history on the night, she became the first woman to win an Emmy for every season of a show.

Allison Janney claimed the eighth Emmy of her career for The Diplomat, with both actresses now level with Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most acting wins in Emmy history.

Rhea Seehorn picked up her first Emmy for best lead actress in a drama for Pluribus, while The Pitt won best drama and its star Noah Wyle took home best lead actor for the second year running.