When he won the Outstanding Supporting Actor award in the Succession category at the Emmys on Sunday, Matthew Macfadyen was quick to praise his wife Keeley Hawes, calling her his “best friend” and also paying tribute to their children.
In the HBO hit, his character Tom Wambsgan's central storyline was his toxic relationship with his wife Siobhan “Shiv” Roy (Sarah Snook) against the backdrop of a show full of backstabbing, twists and drama.
But off screen, Matthew, 49, is happily with fellow actor Keeley, 47, the couple have two children together and he is stepfather to their firstborn.
The couple, who celebrate 20 years of marriage this November, are praised for having one of the strongest marriages in Hollywood, with the pair still remaining just as in love and committed to each other with each passing year despite their hectic work schedule .
Although their relationship may seem like a fairytale, Matthew has admitted it didn't get off to the best start, previously describing the moment he fell in love with Keeley as “terrible”.
His greatest success: How Matthew Macfadyen's marriage to Keeley Hawes went from a 'terrible' beginning to a Hollywood fairytale (pictured at the Emmy Awards on Monday night)
Keeley was newly married to cartoonist Spencer McCallum and had their young son Myles when she first met Matthew in 2002 when they starred in the BBC drama Spooks (pictured in the series).
Keeley was newly married to cartoonist Spencer McCallum and had their young son Myles when she first met Matthew in 2002.
The couple met on the BBC spy series Spooks (known as MI-5 in the US) and were seen kissing in June of the same year.
But Keeley insisted nothing happened between them until the end of their marriage, saying: “I'm sure no one would believe we never had an affair, but we really didn't.”
Speaking about the fairytale moment they said the L word for the first time, Keeley recalled: “Matthew just came out one day and said 'I love you' in the rain. I thought, “Oh dear, here we go.”'
Her divorce from Spencer was finalized in 2004 and she married Matthew in November of the same year. The following month, they welcomed their first child, daughter Maggie.
Keeley revealed there is no bad blood with her ex, explaining: “Spencer and I were best friends before we got married and we've managed to stay that way.”
“Luckily, both my husband and my ex-husband get along great. “They are both generous people, to each other and to the children.”
Speaking to the Mail On Sunday in 2005, Matthew admitted he was in turmoil when he first met Keeley when he realized he had feelings for a married woman.
He explained: “It was terrible because I realized I had fallen in love with her.”
“We didn't have an affair and it was a slow process.” But I knew the effect she had on me. She's gorgeous. Anyone who meets her will tell you the same thing.'
When Matthew accepted his second Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series on Monday, he was quick to thank his wife in his acceptance speech
In Succession, the storyline for his character Tom Wambsgans was his toxic relationship with his wife Siobhan “Shiv” Roy (Sarah Snook), but off screen Tom, 49, is happily in love
Matthew, who played MI5 agent Tom Quinn in Spooks, and Keeley, who found fame as Agent Zoe Reynolds, revealed the couple's lives had “completely changed” when they eloped, saying: “We called each had a buddy who came along as witnesses and people.” small disposable cameras for taking photos.
“I was reading a poem and Keeley was crying her eyes out.” It was wonderful and romantic.
“Keeley was heavily pregnant with our daughter and the whole thing seemed perfect to me…Getting married, celebrating my 30th birthday and then becoming a father in quick succession was fantastic.”
In 2006, they welcomed son Ralph.
The following year, the pair worked together again on a new project when they appeared in the 2007 comedy Death at a Funeral.
Last year they also starred in Stonehouse, dramatizing the life and times of disgraced British minister John Stonehouse.
The series revolved around Labor MP John Stonehouse's love con man, who faked his own death before eloping with his lover and later being exposed as a spy.
While Keeley played the jilted wife on the show, she insisted her marriage was the complete opposite of that of politicians John and Barbara.
She told the Mirror: “We've worked together before, but not for several years.” And when this came up it seemed like the perfect project in many ways, especially because the Stonehouses are so different to Matthew and me and our relationship.
“So it's nice to see us, I think, and interesting for people who might know we're married to see us as the 'other' couple.”
She said to Matthew: “It was really wonderful. 'It was very funny, wasn't it?'
He replied: “Yes, Keeley was very difficult to work with.”
“She's… it was hard.” It was hard. No, that's a stupid answer. It was a pleasure working with Keeley. It was nice, wasn't it?'
He added to Town & Country: “We've seen each other, which is really nice. “So often we're scattered in different countries. But the idea of working together was just great. “We even took the dog with us.”
But working together is rare for the couple and they revealed how they manage to keep the spark of their marriage alive when filming tears them apart.
The pair have worked together since Spooks and starred together in the 2007 comedy Death at a Funeral before working on Stonehouse last year (pictured).
But working together is rare for the couple and they revealed how they manage to keep the spark of their marriage alive as they were torn apart during photo shoots (pictured in 2005).
The couple proves to be each other's biggest champions when they don't work together (Pictured in 2022)
Matthew told the Evening Standard in 2021: “Keeley and I have a three-week rule – neither of us wants to be apart for any longer.” After three weeks of being alone, I started to go a little crazy.
“You start to think. “What am I doing?” I was walking around Brooklyn thinking, 'Where do I live?' It was strange and hard.'
For the lovesick couple, they will do whatever it takes to go the distance, with Keeley telling The Telegraph in 2010: “I love being married to Matthew and I know Matthew loves it too , being married.”
“It connects everything and is a statement for each other and for the world.” “Marriage and motherhood are absolutely crucial to my happiness and my life.”
She added to the Chron's You magazine: “You have to work at it.” We still load the dishwasher and do the washing up – that's life – but you also have to make the effort to be romantic.
“When life takes over, having dinner together isn't at the top of your list, but before you know it, the kids are older and less around and you're somehow back together.” I couldn't love him more. It helps that he’s the nicest man in the world…”
The couple proves to be each other's biggest champions when they don't work together.
When Keeley was nominated for a BAFTA in 2015 for her role in Line of Duty, Matthew told The Big Issue: “It's so exciting – bloody time!”
“Trying to keep our career going and focus on our family is difficult, but that's part of the fun.” How do we do it? Will we traumatize the children if we are away for a few weeks?
“But when one of us is out, the other is usually home.”
When Keeley was nominated for a BAFTA in 2015 for her role in Line of Duty, Matthew told The Big Issue: “It's so exciting – bloody time!” (pictured in 2019)
When Matthew won his first Emmy for Succession in 2022, Keeley celebrated his success on Instagram
When Matthew won his first Emmy for Succession in 2022, Keeley celebrated his achievement on Instagram, posting a picture of Matthew with his award and the caption: “I couldn't be more proud of my amazing, talented, kind and brilliant husband.”
When Matthew accepted his second Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series on Monday, he was quick to thank his wife in his acceptance speech.
He began by joking about his on-screen relationships: “Our outstanding cast, I have to mention my on-screen wife, Sarah Snook, and my other on-screen wife, Nicholas Braun.” “Playing with you was one of the most wonderful things of my career, thank you Nick, thank you Sarah.”
Continuing to mention his family, he continued: “Thank you to my actual wife Keeley, my love and my best friend, for being here.” Maggie, Miles and Ralph, I love you, see you soon.
“Thank you very much, it’s a great honor.”