Hollywood relationships often face the challenge of balancing demanding careers with family life, but actress Keri Russell has revealed that spending time apart from her longtime partner, Matthew Rhys, has unexpected benefits.
During an appearance on Chelsea Handler’s Dear Chelsea podcast, the The Diplomat star explained why the couple’s work-related separation can be good for their relationship. Russell and Rhys have been together for approximately 12 years after reconnecting while working on the FX drama The Americans.
Rather than presenting their time apart as a relationship problem, Russell described it as something they have learned to appreciate. Her comments offered a humorous glimpse into how the actors manage their careers, parenting responsibilities and life together.
Keri Russell Enjoys Having Her Own Space
Keri Russell explained that Rhys sometimes travels abroad for extended periods because of his acting commitments. She said he was preparing to spend around five months in the United Kingdom for work, leaving her to manage their Brooklyn home and family routine.
The actress joked that when Rhys is away, she gets to enjoy having the house and bed to herself while enforcing her own household rules. She described keeping the home organised and making sure everyone goes to bed at 9 p.m., joking that once bedtime arrives, her responsibilities as a mother are officially over for the night.
Although she acknowledged that being apart can be difficult, Russell said the arrangement gives them room to enjoy their individual routines. When Rhys returns, she explained, everyone is excited to have him back.
“We have this gift of being apart a lot, and that is the way to do it,” Russell said, describing how the arrangement works for their relationship.
The Couple Has Found a Rhythm That Works
Keri Russell and Rhys share a son, Sam, and she also has two older children from her previous marriage. Managing family life alongside their acting careers means the couple must find practical ways to remain connected when work takes them to different locations.
Russell explained that they make efforts to visit each other while working away from home. She also joked about the unusual nature of their profession, where actors sometimes have to perform romantic scenes with other people. However, she suggested that as they have grown older, such situations have become less concerning.
The pair first met years before they began their relationship and later played a married couple in The Americans. Their real-life romance developed during the show’s run, and they have continued to balance their private life with high-profile acting careers.
Russell’s comments offer a reminder that relationships do not always need to follow a traditional routine to work. For her and Rhys, occasional distance appears to provide an opportunity to appreciate their time together while allowing each person to pursue professional commitments.
More updates on Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys and the latest celebrity relationship stories will continue to come your way from Buzz Legit.
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