Matthew Rhys on Keri Russell's nude scenes: 'I get a little protective'

NEW YORK, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell are opening up about their graphic sex scenes in The Americans.

The 41-year-old Welsh actor admitted he gets protective of Russell, his co-star and real-life partner, in a joint interview with the 40-year-old American actress for The Hollywood Reporter.

"I get a little protective," Rhys told the magazine. "I'm like, 'Can someone get her a [expletive] robe, please?!' She's standing there naked, we've cut for five seconds, Jesus Christ. And they're like, 'Dude, this is the fourth season.'"

Rhys and Russell play Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, two KGB spies posing as a married couple, on the FX series. Russell was initially hesitant about the scenes, but came to embrace the show's unconventional approach.

"I sort of love the use of it on our show because, at least, in my experience being a woman, you usually have to do the most sexy, the most in love, the most romantic version," she said.

"In our show, I'm in a place of power," the actress explained. "It's to get information from that person or to make that person feel a certain way. And that can be empowering."

Rhys and Russell started dating in 2013 and welcomed their first child, son Sam, in May. The actress, who is also mom to son River and daughter Willa with ex-husband Shane Dreary, made her post-baby debut at the 2016 Tony Awards in June.

"Keri and Matt both look overjoyed and over the moon to be new parents," a source told Us Weekly after the baby's birth. "They are always snapping pictures of the baby, and family and friends have been sending gifts."

The Americans completed a fourth season in June. The series is nominated for five Emmy awards at this year's ceremony, including Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Lead Actress for Rhys and Russell.