Keri Russell explains why she and Matthew Rhys won’t get married after more than a decade together

Shelby StivaleFri, October 9, 2026 at 6:08 PM UTC

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Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys attend ‘Widow’s Bay’ premiere in April 2026Credit: Dominik Bindl/WireImageKey Points -

Keri Russell explained why she and Matthew Rhys will never get married.

The actress detailed their relationship during a recent appearance on the Dear Chelsea podcast.

Russell and Rhys have been together since 2013.

Don’t expect Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys to ever walk down the aisle.

“I love that you also are not married,” Chelsea Handler told Russell during the Thursday episode of her Dear Chelsea podcast. The actress replied, “I love it too. It is fun.”

As for why she doesn’t want to get married? Russell’s answer is simple: “I’ve had a big party. I get to dress up all the time.” However, she does understand that “marriage is something different” for others — and she respects that.

“People used to have to be married to have a credit card. We can have credit cards now,” Russell added. “I don’t need my last name to go away. I’m cool. If you wanna be here, be here. If you don’t, that’s cool too.”

Both Handler and Russell agreed that “it’s sexier” to be in a long-term relationship.

“P.S., we have kids. So, like, that’s forever,” Russell added. “To me, [marriage] is antiquated.”

Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell attend the Emmys on Sept. 14Credit: Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty

The Diplomat actress has been in a relationship with Rhys since 2013. They are parents to a 10-year-old son named Sam. Russell is also the mother to two kids — River, 19, and Willa, 13 — whom she shares with ex-husband Shane Deary.

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Russell and Rhys’ relationship made headlines last month after the Widow’s Bay star omitted his partner’s name from his acceptance speeches during the 2026 Emmys. That night, Rhys made history for winning both Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me, as well as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow’s Bay.

“I looked at him like a few days before, and I said, ‘Okay, well, can you articulate what you’re most nervous about?’” Russell said on Dear Chelsea, setting the record straight on why Rhys didn’t thank her.

Rhys told Russell he was nervous about “having to speak” if accepting awards. She responded with: “Take me off your plate. Like, you don’t have to thank me. I know you love me.”

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Russell explained that there really is a lot of pressure when it comes to acceptance speeches, because people get upset if they’re excluded. Rhys, in particular, still hears some complaints about his 2018 win for The Americans.

“People still give him a hard time because he didn’t say their name,” she explained. “Like, it’s so crazy. People get nuts. It’s stupid and it’s also lame.”

Listen to Russell’s full appearance on Dear Chelsea below.

on Entertainment Weekly

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