The Widow\u2019s Bay star<\/a> and his long-time partner, fellow actor Keri Russell<\/a>, spoke about their respective Emmy nominations in a recent interview, in which Rhys was asked how he chooses his acting roles.<\/p>\n \u201cCash,\u201d the Welsh actor<\/a>, 51, quipped immediately to Variety<\/a>. \u201cCash basis.\u201d<\/p>\n As Russell laughed, Rhys continued: \u201cLike what pays most wins. Very simple. Three children and a mortgage, I\u2019ll get after it. I have no shame. I\u2019ll whore myself to the best of them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn fairness, Widow\u2019s Bay is a script I\u2019d never seen the like of,\u201d Rhys added in a more serious tone. \u201cI was desperate to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Rhys stars as a small-town New England mayor on the hit Apple TV+ comedy-horror series, which earned a total of 19 nominations at this year\u2019s Emmy Awards. The show \u2014 created by Parks and Recreation writer <\/a>Katie Dippold \u2014 centers on Rhys\u2019s character as he attempts to boost tourism on an island that locals are convinced is cursed.<\/p>\n The Emmy-winning actor went on to say that he was keen to join the project once he saw that acclaimed director Hiro Murai was on board to direct five episodes of the 10-episode series.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd knowing Hiro Murai was going to direct, I was like, oh my god,\u2019\u201d Rhys said before slipping in one more joke. \u201cAnd the cash.\u201d (The exact salary that Rhys was paid for his Emmy-nominated role has not been disclosed by Apple.)<\/p>\n The Diplomat star Russell<\/a>, 50, said that Rhys is often skeptical of projects that he joins, but that Widow\u2019s Bay was the \u201conly thing he\u2019s ever come home and I was like, \u2018Oh, he likes this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The longtime couple are not the only ones praising the must-watch show, <\/a>which also stars Stephen Root, Kevin Carroll, Dale Dickey, Kate O\u2019Flynn and Kingston Rumi Southwick. The limited series debuted in April with a coveted 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has since dropped to 98 percent.<\/p>\n Oscar-winning director Guillermo Del Toro gave a glowing review of the comedy-horror <\/a>on X in May, writing: \u201cIf I may- in my estimation- #WidowsBay may very well be the best streaming series in a long time\u2026 and hands down one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in Horror.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Matthew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Widows-Bay.jpeg\")
Matthew Rhys stars as the mayor of a creepy island in Apple TV’s horror-comedy series ‘Widow’s Bay’ (Apple TV +)<\/p>\n![\"Rhys](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2263764606...jpeg\")
Rhys has landed two Emmy nominations in different categories this year for his starring roles in \u2018The Beast in Me\u2019 and \u2018Widow\u2019s Bay\u2019 (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n