Keri Russell on new Emmy love: So long, 'underdog'

The Americans is no longer a critical hit in hiding.

After three years of Emmy snubs, the spy drama rebounded this year with nominations for best drama series and lead actors Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys.

Russell and Rhys, a couple in real life who welcomed a son in May, were "in shock," says Russell. "We were like, we've not been nominated so many times we were so sure we’d never be nominated! But maybe because it's the fourth season (of the show) there's so much less pressure. It just feels very fun."

Keri Russell finally divulges baby details

But there could be consequences. "I know," she laughs. "We're like, 'Oh, no!' Now no one's going to like our show now. The underdog position is the place to be."

Her summer maternity leave is full of little sleep and "fireflies." The actress, who has two children with her ex, Shane Deary, says she and Rhys will return to shoot the fifth season in New York this October (A sixth in 2018 will wrap up the series).  "It wasn't exactly planned that way, but it did all work out pretty well," she says of the baby's timing. "It's been a pretty fun summer of nature and kids and not a lot of sleep."

And just like the rest of us, she's trying to cobble clues about next season. "Before I left for the summer we got tipped off about one certain thing," she says. "And I was like, 'Guys, if I need to learn Russian, just tell me now. If we're going to be doing heavy-duty Russian, I want to be learning it over the summer, not like a week before I have to perform it."