Netflix's The Diplomat's Keri Russell's fascination with Welsh culture as she reveals desire to learn language
Star Wars and The Diplomat star, Keri Russell has revealed that she loves the Welsh language and culture and hoped to one day be able to speak Welsh. Currently dominating the most popular TV shows on Netflix with the second series of the political drama, Russell was speaking to the BBC about her desire to learn the language as partner, Cardiff actor Matthew Rhys, communicates with their son, Sam, exclusively in Welsh.
The Welsh and American actors fell in love on the set of FX spy series The Americans, in which they both played as Soviet spies disguised as a married couple. After 10 years as a couple, during which they welcomed Sam in 2014, Keri confessed she knows some Welsh from her other half, who's also appeared in Oscar-nominated films like The Post and A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, but would love to learn more.
The actress told the BBC: "I know bore da, nos da, I know how to count, normal liveable things. But Math speaks to Sam almost exclusively in Welsh."
She added that having become obsessed with Welsh culture, she needed to visit the Welsh learners' centre Nant Gwytheyrn, in Llithfaen, Gwynedd. She added: “Everything about the Welsh culture from the eisteddfod, everything is surrounded by poetry and dance and art in general. Meeting Math and learning about that, it's just very much a part of who he is, and how cool that kids grow up performing in this ancient tradition of art and dance and singing." For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter
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Matthew, 49, who is from Cardiff, acknowledged that his relationship at the workplace could be "disastrous" when he first fell for Keri, 48. Speaking to New York Post's PageSix, he said: "We were both at an age where we've done it long enough to go: 'You know workplace [romances] can be disastrous.' So, I think it was approached with caution and a great deal of trepidation. And coupled with that, for me, was certainly fun and excitement. Thank God it worked!"
It wasn't the sets of the American where the couple first met though. Matthew shared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, saying: "We went to a kickball party hosted by Jennifer Grey ... She gave it [her phone number] to me, but this is where it all falls apart. I have no memory of this because I was very inebriated, but I left a very inebriated message on her answering machine, as people had in those days." He added that Keri did not find his message endearing, saying: "Not in the slightest!"
However, with their packed schedules, Matthew admits that the couple do often feel like "ships passing in the night". He told PEOPLE: “What we try to do is how many of our friends do it, one works when the other one doesn't [so there is always] a parent in the house. There are moments where you're ships passing in the night to a degree, and that makes it a little tricky.”
The Welsh actor added: “But we try not to disrupt home life too much. So that's how we've generally done it. And for the most part, up until now, it seems to work. We definitely would work together [again], we've said that before. We've just waited. We always said 'The Americans' was so special, it would have to be something akin to that we're both so excited to do. It shouldn't just be anything."
Keri's plays US Ambassador Kate Wyler in The Diplomat, which is streaming on Netflix, now. She also told the BBC she was 'grateful' to be playing a powerful and intelligent woman.
"There was a time for women in this industry where you'd be almost 50 and things were kind of ending," said Russell.
"So to get the opportunity to do a project like this that is so smart and so funny, everything I want it to be, I'm beyond grateful."
