Keri Russell And Matthew Rhys Talk About ‘The Americans,’ Dating Rumors

Keri Russell returns to The Americans as Elizabeth Jennings, alongside co-star Matthew Rhys who plays her “husband” Philip in the second season premiere on FX, February 26.

The series — set in the 1980s — follows the story of the Jennings, who are undercover KGB agents posing as a suburban married couple, and in its first season the show received more Television Critics Association nominations than any other new show in 2013 and ended up winning for Outstanding New Program.

In the premiere episode of Season 2, screened at the New York Paris Theater on Monday, Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys find themselves desperately trying to keep their family safe as the Cold War rages on.

At the end of Season 1, the fake couple took the plunge and became a real couple and, this time around, they have to fight their political foes.

Even though Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys didn’t share many details about what happens during the new season, they couldn’t help but some of it. The recently divorced actress spoke about her role and how the dynamics with Rhys have changed in Season 2, going from professional to personal:

“I think if last season was a metaphor on marriage, to me anyway, this season to me is really a metaphor on family, and again as much as we’re talking about the 1980s and spies and all that stuff, to me the important throughliness are really protecting your family. Maybe it was naive, but I think this is the first time Elizabeth has really seen the danger that her children are in. And now that she is more vulnerable-slash-messier in her work, because of her new vulnerability and intimacy with Phillip and her family, I think it endangers her kids more.”

For his part, Matthew Rhys also discussed a little about how things change after Elizabeth and Phillip do the deed:

“As a result of them becoming a real relationship, the other elements of the job that as of now haven’t become a problem becomes enormous. What’s fantastic is it afflicts both the domestic and espionage worlds. Phillip and Elizabeth are a united front now. (Season two) is dealing with the danger that is intensifying by the minute.”

And, no, despite rumors to the contrary, Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are not dating. He even had to convince his mother that they were not a couple in real life and he confesses his sex scenes with Russell are not well received by his family, who has asked to be warned so they can “look the other way.”

You can watch Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in the premiere of Season 2 of The Americans tonight, on FX at 10 pm/ET.

[Images courtesy of FX]