Real reason why Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are avoiding marriage after 13 years together

Keri Russell has revealed why she and longtime partner, Matthew Rhys, don’t have plans to walk down the aisle anytime soon.

During a Thursday appearance on comedian Chelsea Handler’s podcast, “Dear Chelsea,” Russell said that she doesn’t feel the need to get married again, especially in today’s current society.

“I’ve had a big party, you know. I get to dress up all the time, and I know for a lot of people, marriage is something different,” Russell, 50, said.

Keri Russell has revealed why she and her longtime partner, Matthew Rhys, have no plans to get married. (They’re pictured above in 2024.) FilmMagic
Russell, pictured above with Rhys in January, explained that she doesn’t feel the need to get married again. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

“…People used to be married to have a credit card. We can have credit cards now. I don’t need my last name to go away,” she continued.

Russell has been in a relationship with Rhys since late 2013, and the two share son Sam, 10, whom they welcomed in 2016.

The actress was previously married to contractor Shane Deary from 2007 to 2014. She shares two children with Deary, son River, 19, and daughter Willa Lou, 13.

Russell and Rhys, pictured above in 2023, have been in a relationship since 2013. Getty Images for Netflix
During her appearance on Chelsea Handler’s podcast, Russell, pictured above with Rhys in 2024, explained why he left her out of his 2026 Emmys acceptance speech. Chelsea Lauren / Shutterstock

During Russell’s appearance on the podcast, she also spoke about why Rhys left her out of his 2026 Emmys acceptance speech.

“He was just so nervous. I mean, we were all nervous. … But, you know, it’s a lot. It’s a lot of pressure,” Russell told Handler. “We’re both nervous people. We’re not in that world that much. We visit that world, and so we were both so nervous.”

“I looked at him a few days before and I said, ‘OK, well, can you articulate what you’re most nervous about?’” she continued. “And he’s like, ‘Yeah, having to speak.’ And I said, ‘Totally.’ And I said, ‘Take me off your plate. Like, you don’t have to thank me. I know you love me.’”

She explained that Rhys gets “nervous” while public speaking. (The two are seen above in 2025.) WireImage
The couple, pictured above in September, were both nominated for Emmys this year. WireImage

Rhys was awarded two Emmys this year, winning the award for lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for “The Beast in Me,” as well as lead actor in a comedy series for “Widow’s Bay.”

Russell was also nominated for an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series for her role in Netflix’s thriller series “The Diplomat.”

The couple has mostly kept their relationship out of the public eye. However, Rhys did joke during his 2018 Emmys acceptance speech that Russell would have “punched him” if he had proposed during the awards ceremony.

Russell and Rhys have largely kept their relationship out of the public eye. (They are seen above in 2017.) FilmMagic
The couple, pictured here in 2024, share one child together, son Sam, 10. Getty Images for Netflix

“And finally, to the woman who truly got me this award, who just stands in front of me every day and just puts up with me,” the actor said in his speech for winning best lead actor in a drama series.

“She said, ‘If you propose to me, I’ll punch you clean in the mouth.’ I don’t have the words, or the time, neither which would do you justice, Keri Lynn, except thank you.”

During that same 2018 ceremony, director Glenn Weiss proposed to his girlfriend Jan Svendsen while accepting his award for outstanding directing for a variety special.

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