Widow’s Bay Star Officially Sets Awards History With Massive Second Win

Apple Studios/MovieStillsDB Published Sep 14, 2026, 9:24 PM EDT Matthew Rudoy is one of ScreenRant's Movie & TV News Editors. He covers the latest in movie & TV news, with a focus on major franchises like Star Wars, The Boys, and Game of Thrones, and also writes some features and reviews. He wrote lists for ScreenRant from 2017-2022, became a news writer in 2023, a senior staff writer in 2024, and an editor in 2025. Sign in to your ScreenRant account This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.Matthew Rhys has just set a historic first for the Primetime Emmy Awards with his big Widow's Bay victory. In Netflix's 2025 limited series The Beast in Me, Rhys played the wealthy and unsettling real estate mogul Nile Jarvis, who is widely believed to have killed his wife, and moves next door to author Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes). Several months later, in 2026, he played the lead role of Mayor Tom Loftis in Apple TV's acclaimed horror-comedy series Widow's Bay, in which he tries to turn the eponymous town into a tourist destination despite the residents' claims of it being haunted. He was nominated for his performances in both series. After having already claimed the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me, Matthew Rhys has now won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Widow's Bay. This officially sets history for the ceremony as the Welsh performer is now the first-ever male actor to score both Lead Actor wins. In the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards, Rhys' fellow nominees in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series category were Riz Ahmed (Bait), Jason Bateman (Black Rabbit), Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story), and Oscar Isaac (Beef). In the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category, the other nominees were Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Wonder Man), Steve Carell (Rooster), Jason Segel (Shrinking), and Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building). Rhys' Emmy-Award-winning performances previously received extensive acclaim, including in ScreenRant's The Beast in Me review, in which Mae Abdulbaki wrote, "The complexities tackled by the show are made all the more exceptional thanks to the exquisitely crafted performances by Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys." Despite playing a completely different kind of character in Apple TV's horror-comedy series, his performance there was also celebrated, including in ScreenRant's Widow's Bay review: "Rhys is the perfect lead for this kind of story, pulling off the stressed, exasperated mayor of the titular island town without a hitch." While The Beast in Me is over due to being a limited series, Rhys is returning as Tom Loftis after Apple TV's renewal. Widow's Bay season 2's filming window received an update from Kate O'Flynn, who shared that "I know it's hopefully March time, I think, we might be filming season 2." O'Flynn won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Patricia Moyer, and Dale Dickey was also nominated in that category for playing Rosemary. Developing... Release Date April 28, 2026 Network Apple TV Showrunner Katie Dippold Cast Matthew Rhys Mayor Tom Loftis A single father and pragmatic mayor of a New England island town contends with superstitious residents convinced that it is cursed. Dates September 14, 2026 Location The Peacock Theater, Los Angeles, CA Network NBC An annual celebration of television excellence gathers actors creators and industry leaders to honor standout series performances and creative achievements from the past year.