Widow’s Bay, The Beast in Me star Matthew Rhys on dual Emmy nods for shows that take risks
The Welsh actor talks about his roles in Widow’s Bay and The Beast in Me, and making original series to ‘challenge audiences’
Rhys plays Tom Loftis, a single dad and the mayor of a cursed New England island who is trying to balance the town’s supernatural threats with his efforts to boost tourism.
The word-of-mouth buzz around the series, which premiered in April, intensified each week leading up to its finale in June, prompting chatter around its prospects as a major Emmys contender.
The series arrived late in the season, so only its first seven episodes qualify for the 2026 awards cycle, but that was enough for Rhys to nab a nod.
Nile finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game with his new neighbour (Claire Danes), an author in search of her next book subject who is suspicious of his innocence.