Keri Russell Jokes She's Been with Matthew Rhys 'So Long' She Doesn't 'Remember Other Relationships' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys at the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards in L.A. on Jan. 7, 2024.Photo:Amy Sussman/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty

InThe Diplomat,Keri Russellplays a U.S. ambassador married to a diplomat. While that may sound glamorous, Kate Wyler (Russell) and her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell) don’t often exemplify a perfect marriage.

Russell, 48, describes the Wylers’ relationship as “complex.”

“This season it feels kind of heartbreaking,” she tells PEOPLE. “It feels very mature and like the realities of knowing somebody for so long. But as far as Kate and Hal, there is not one without the other. It’s so enmeshed that it is a part of their attraction.”

Russell has real-life experience working with along-term partner,Matthew Rhys, with whom she started dating in 2014 at the beginning of their run inThe Americans. She and Rhys, 49, welcomedson Samin May 2016.

“It can be a really nice shorthand because they know what work is to you, but it can also feel a lot at times,” Russell says of having a significant other who works in the same field. “But it can be a nice to have someone who does something completely different so that there’s like a break. But I’ve been with Matthew for so long, I don’t remember other relationships.”

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys at the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards in L.A. on Jan. 14, 2024.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Season 2 ofThe Diplomatpicks up in the aftermath of an explosion in London that injured Hal and some of Kate’s colleagues. “I think that was just as surprising to us when we read it,” Russell says of season 1’s shocking conclusion. “We had no idea that’s where it was gonna go.”

After realizing the explosion came from within the British government, Kate starts to wonder in season 2 “who she can trust and who she doesn’t trust,” Russell says.

Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler and Keri Russell as Kate Wyler ‘The Diplomat’ season 1.Netflix

Netflix

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Kate also continues to ponder putting her hat in the ring for the job of vice president of the United States. “All of that is percolating, but the introduction of[Allison] Janney’s character really complicates the mix of it all,” Russell says.

Janney, 64, joins season 2 as Vice President Grace Penn. Russell told PEOPLE atPaleyFest 2024that she “was nervous, a little bit” for Janney to joinThe Diplomatbecause “she’s awesome and so good.”

Allison Janney at the premiere of ‘The People We Hate At The Wedding’ in L.A. on Nov. 16, 2022.Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

“But she’s everything you want her to be,” Russell said. “She’s gracious and funny and smart and cool.”

TheFelicityalum saysThe Diplomatseason 2 launching days before the U.S.’s first female vice president runs for the highest office in the country an “incredibly uncanny” coincidence.

“We made this like a year and a half ago, before any of this,” the actress says. “It just so happens that it’s very worked in our favor.”

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The Diplomatseason 2 premieres Thursday, Oct. 31, on Netflix.

source: people.com