Hollywood Tomorrow
TV & Streaming

Keri Russell Reflects on 'The Americans' Production and Matthew Rhys Romance

Keri Russell revisited her time filming FX's Cold War drama The Americans alongside co-star and partner Matthew Rhys.

By Danny Rios · October 13, 2026 · 1 min read

Published by Hollywood Tomorrow

TV & Streaming illustration for Keri Russell Reflects on 'The Americans' Production and Matthew Rhys Romance
TV & Streaming illustration for Keri Russell Reflects on 'The Americans' Production and Matthew Rhys Romance

Keri Russell has offered candid reflections on her tenure filming FX's *The Americans*, detailing the early stages of her relationship with co-star Matthew Rhys during production of the Cold War drama.

Speaking about the series, Russell recalled "having sex all the time" with Rhys while working on the set, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. The two performers first met during the making of the critically acclaimed series, which aired on FX between 2013 and 2018.

## A Cornerstone Cable Drama

Created by former CIA officer Joe Weisberg, *The Americans* starred Russell and Rhys as Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two undercover Soviet intelligence operatives living in suburban Washington, D.C. The production ran for six seasons and 75 episodes, anchoring FX's prestige programming portfolio alongside series such as *Fargo* and *Justified*.

The real-life romance between Russell and Rhys developed during the show's early run, and the couple later had a child together in 2016. The chemistry between the two leads was widely credited by critics as a foundational component of the show's narrative success, yielding critical acclaim throughout its run.

For Hollywood Tomorrow, retrospective conversations around *The Americans* highlight an era of basic cable drama defined by patient storytelling and tightly contained, multi-year ensemble productions that are increasingly rare in today's shortened streaming cycles.

Both actors have remained prominent figures in high-profile television following the conclusion of the series. Russell currently headlines the Netflix political drama *The Diplomat*, while Rhys led HBO's period legal drama *Perry Mason* and continues to develop independent film and series projects.

Reported from the originating source.

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