Sinna Nasseri Captures 78th Emmy Winners in Candid Photos

Q: How did one actor pull off an unprecedented double lead-acting win in a single night to make Emmy history?

Matthew Rhys did it by winning in two different lead categories on the same night, a feat no performer had achieved before at the Emmys. At the 78th Emmy Awards, Rhys won Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for *Widow’s Bay* and Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for *The Beast in Me*. Because those races are separate and both were open to him for different performances, he was eligible in each and prevailed in both, making Emmy history with two lead-acting wins in one ceremony. The double victory also completed a broader milestone. Rhys had already won Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018 for *The Americans*. With the 2026 comedy and limited-series wins, he became the first performer to win lead acting Emmys across drama, comedy and limited series. Coverage also described him as the first man to complete that full set of lead acting categories. His comedy win came as *Widow’s Bay* had a breakout night, taking Outstanding Comedy Series and setting a comedy-series Emmy record with 14 total wins. But Rhys’ individual achievement stood apart: he did not just benefit from a strong show, he converted two separate lead performances into two trophies in one night, creating the unprecedented record.

2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 15

Sinna Nasseri photographed candid moments from the 78th Emmy Awards, focusing on winners and other television figures during Monday night's ceremony.
Stephen Colbert, Jean Smart and Matthew Rhys were among those shown after taking home statuettes at the event.
The photo feature documents behind-the-scenes and in-the-room moments from the 2026 Emmys rather than the awards results themselves.