Matthew Rhys is unrecognisable from debut role on BBC show which hasn't been seen in over 25 years
Actor Matthew Rhys is unrecognisable in his first TV role from nearly 30 years ago.
Rhys has had a large number of roles over the years spanning TV, theatre, and film as well.
These have included voiceover parts in Bojack Horseman, Archer, and Tuca and Bertie, as well as film roles such as Come What May, The Post, and Cocaine Bear.
But back in 1997 Rhys had a smaller part in the BBC police procedural drama Backup, playing rookie police officer PC Steve Higson, who discovers the body of a teenager.
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Footage from the TV program shows a scene in which the fresh-faced PC Higson is giving evidence in court.
His short hair and clean shaven face look a world away from Rhy's longer curly hair and beard that he sported on the awards night.
Rhys has become the first person to win two lead acting awards at the Emmys in a single night, the BBC reported.
The actor took home the prize for 'Lead actor in a comedy series' for his performance in Widow's Bay, as well as the award for 'Lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie' for his role in The Beast in Me.
Giving a speech for his second award of the evening, Rhys dedicated it 'to the great and good people of Wales, who were as much a nurture as anyone else'.
"We are a small but mighty nation. This is incredible," he said, adding: "Diolch yn fawr iawn", which is Cymraeg for 'thank you very much'.
Widow's Bay is a comedy horror series set in a fictional New England town, which has a curse that draws supernatural attention.
Meanwhile, The Beast in Me is a thriller in which author, played by Claire Danes, develops an unhealthy obsession with a neighbour who is suspected of murder.
Speaking backstage after the awards, Rhys said: "I'm from a small country, and I'm glad we get moments to kind of put our flag on the map and say, 'we punch higher than our weight sometimes'."
Speaking to Danes, he said: "Thank you for letting me join the mystery machine and bringing out the beast, you are an intimidating scene partner, but I'm grateful for all this."
Only a very small group of actors have even been nominated for two leading awards at the Emmy in the same year, including Alan Alda, Ted Danson, Sally Field, John Goodman, and Elisabeth Moss.
However, Rhys made history when he became the first actor to win two leading awards in the same night at the ceremony.
He thanked his family, loved ones, and colleagues, in particular his parents who he said 'kicked me on to the stage at a very early age'.
Other actors who won over the evening included Jean Smart, Allison Janney and Stephen Colbert.
There were also special tributes made during the ceremony to singer and philanthropist Dolly Parton, with actor Sally Field, who had starred with Parton, saying: "God bless you Dolly Parton my friend, I am not the only one on Earth who will love you for ever and ever."
Tributes were also made to actor Catherine O'Hara by Macaulay Culkin, Annie Murphy, and Dan Levy, who all played her on-screen children in Home Alone and Schitt's Creek.
Culkin said: "She may have forgotten me... twice! But we will always remember her."
Topics: Celebrity, Emmy Awards, TV and Film
Kit Roberts