Matthew Rhys Wins Best Actor in a Comedy Series for ‘Widow’s Bay’ at the 2026 Emmys

Ahead of the 2026 Primetime Emmys, it was clear that, despite a crowded field of acclaimed series, two were going to rise above the rest — Hacks and Widow’s Bay. The HBO Max and Apple TV shows ranked second and third, behind only The Pitt, with 24 and 19 award nominations, respectively, heading into television’s biggest night. The former has long been a favorite of the voters and rode into this year with a bit of extra momentum coming off its fifth and final season, while the latter burst onto the scene as one of the most acclaimed horror comedies in recent memory from former Parks and Recreation mind Katie Dippold. Naturally, that put both of their leads, Jean Smart and Matthew Rhys, in good spots for their respective races.