Keri Russell
19ms
Keri Lynn Russell, born March 23rd, 1976, is an American actress who has carved a remarkable path through dramatic television since the 1990s. Her talent has earned her a record seven nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She captured a Golden Globe in 1999 for her captivating lead role in the drama series *Felicity*, and has since garnered five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and four additional Golden Globe Award nominations for her compelling performances in *The Americans* and *The Diplomat*. Her significant contributions to television were further recognized in 2017 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Russell's journey began at the tender age of 15, gracing Disney Channel's revival of *The Mickey Mouse Club* as a regular cast member from 1991 to 1994. Her cinematic debut arrived in 1992 with *Honey, I Blew Up the Kid*. Russell's filmography boasts an impressive array of titles, including *We Were Soldiers* (2002), *Waitress* (2007), *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes* (2014), and the epic conclusion of the Skywalker saga, *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker* (2019). On the theatrical stage, she impressed audiences in Neil LaBute's off-Broadway play *Fat Pig* (2004–2005) and made her Broadway debut in the revival of Lanford Wilson's *Burn This* (2019).
Born in Fountain Valley, California, on March 23rd, 1976, Keri Russell is the daughter of Stephanie Stephens, a homemaker, and David Russell, a Nissan Motors executive. She has an older brother and a younger sister. The family's frequent moves, from Coppell, Texas, to Mesa, Arizona, and Highlands Ranch, Colorado, were dictated by her father's career.
Russell's early passion for dance in middle and high school paved the way for her casting on Disney Channel's *The All New Mickey Mouse Club*. From 1991 to 1994, she was a vibrant presence on the show, spanning seasons four through six. In 1992, she took on a role in *Honey, I Blew Up the Kid*, followed by a minor appearance on the sitcom *Boy Meets World* in 1993 as Mr. Feeny's niece. Her television credits also include an episode of *Married... with Children* in 1995. She subsequently starred in several film and television projects, including the 1996 made-for-television film *The Babysitter's Seduction* and a role on the short-lived soap opera *Malibu Shores*. In 1994, she appeared as the "other woman" in Bon Jovi's music video for "Always," and in 1997, she featured in two episodes of *Roar*.
From 1998 to 2002, Russell commanded the screen as the titular character in the highly successful WB Network series *Felicity*, a role that earned her a Golden Globe in 1999. During this period, she also appeared in the limited release films *Eight Days a Week*, *The Curve*, and *Mad About Mambo*. Her next cinematic endeavor was *We Were Soldiers* (2002), where she portrayed the wife of a United States serviceman during the Vietnam War, a film released just two months before *Felicity*'s conclusion.
Following the end of *Felicity*, Russell relocated to New York City and made her off-Broadway debut in 2004 in Neil LaBute's *Fat Pig*. In 2005, she returned to television and film with appearances in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie *The Magic of Ordinary Days*, the theatrical film *The Upside of Anger*, and the television miniseries *Into the West*. In 2005, director J. J. Abrams invited Russell to join the cast of *Mission: Impossible III*, an offer she accepted. She was considered for the role of Lois Lane in *Superman Returns* but the part ultimately went to Kate Bosworth.
In mid-2006, Russell was chosen as a celebrity spokeswoman for CoverGirl cosmetics. The summer of 2007 saw her featured in *The Keri Kronicles*, a reality show sitcom sponsored by CoverGirl and broadcast on MySpace, filmed at her Manhattan home and offering a glimpse into her life. Also in 2007, she played Melody on the NBC show *Scrubs*. Russell then starred in the film *Waitress*, marking the fourth time she portrayed a pregnant woman. Her performance was lauded by critics, with Michael Sragow of The Baltimore Sun noting its "aesthetic character" and Russell's ability to "wield tenderness and fierceness with quiet heat." In 2007, Russell also completed roles in *Grimm Love* and *The Girl in the Park*. She later appeared in *August Rush* in November 2007 and *Bedtime Stories*. On *The View* in December 2008, Russell shared that Adam Sandler's wife, Jackie, had recommended her for *Bedtime Stories* after seeing her in *Waitress*. In 2009, she lent her voice to Wonder Woman in a direct-to-video animated feature released on March 3rd.
Russell starred in the Tom Vaughan-directed *Extraordinary Measures* for CBS Films. This drama, which began filming on April 6th, 2009, and was released on January 22nd, 2010, was the first film produced by the new company. Russell played Aileen Crowley, a mother striving to create a normal home life for her sick children while her husband and an unconventional scientist race against time to find a cure. From 2010 to 2011, Russell was also a lead in the Fox series *Running Wilde*.
From 2013 to 2018, Russell captivated audiences as Elizabeth Jennings, a deep-cover Russian KGB spy living as an American during the 1980s Cold War, in the FX drama series *The Americans*. She starred opposite Matthew Rhys, who played her character's husband and spy partner. Their on-screen chemistry translated into a real-life partnership during this time. The series concluded after six seasons, and Russell's performance earned her three consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, along with two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. Emily St. James of Vox lauded her performance as "gorgeously restrained." In 2013, Russell also appeared in the science-fiction horror film *Dark Skies* and the romantic comedy *Austenland*. In 2014, she took on a role in the science fiction action film *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes*, a sequel to the 2011 film. She portrayed Serena Knight in the 2016 historical war film *Free State of Jones*. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled in 2017. In July 2018, it was announced that Russell would join the cast of *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker*, released on December 20th, 2019, reuniting her with J.J. Abrams. In March 2019, she starred in the first Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson's play *Burn This* at the Hudson Theatre. Frank Rizzo of Variety praised her performance, noting that Russell, "whose stage credits are slim but who's proven her chops onscreen in The Americans, creates a vivid, if less flashy, performance," adding, "Still, she's a force in her own right." In 2023, Russell began starring in *The Diplomat*, a political series on Netflix from writer and producer Debora Cahn.
In 2006, Russell became engaged to Shane Deary, a Brooklyn-based contractor she met through mutual friends. They married in New York on February 14th, 2007, and have two children: a son born in 2007 and a daughter born in 2011. Russell and Deary separated in early 2013 and divorced in mid-2014. Since 2014, she has been in a relationship with Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, her co-star in *The Americans*. They have a son, born in 2016. In interviews conducted in 2021, Russell and Rhys referred to each other as husband and wife, though in a 2025 interview, Rhys humorously stated, "we literally haven't got round to marriage yet."
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Keri Lynn Russell (born March 23, 1976) is an American actress. Prolific in dramatic television since the 1990s, she has received a record seven nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She won a Golden Globe Award in 1999 for her lead role in the drama series Felicity, and has received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and four additional Golden Globe Award nominations for her roles in The Americans and The Diplomat. In 2017, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to television.
She first appeared on Disney Channel's revival of The Mickey Mouse Club when she was 15 and was a regular cast member on the show from 1991 to 1994. She made her first film appearance in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992). Russell's other film appearances include We Were Soldiers (2002), Waitress (2007), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). On stage, she acted in Neil LaBute's off-Broadway play Fat Pig (2004–2005) and made her Broadway debut in the Lanford Wilson revival Burn This (2019).
== Early life ==
Russell was born on March 23, 1976, in Fountain Valley, California, to Stephanie Stephens, a homemaker, and David Russell, a Nissan Motors executive. She has an older brother and a younger sister. The family lived in Coppell, Texas; Mesa, Arizona; and Highlands Ranch, Colorado, moving frequently due to her father's work.
== Career ==
=== 1990–2002: Early roles and rise to prominence with Felicity ===
Russell was a dancer in middle school and high school, and her dancing had helped her get cast on The All New Mickey Mouse Club television show on the Disney Channel. Russell was on the show from 1991 to 1994, encompassing seasons four to six.
In 1992, she appeared in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid and in 1993, had a minor role on the sitcom Boy Meets World as Mr. Feeny's niece. She appeared on Married... with Children in a 1995 episode ("Radio Free Trumaine", production 9.24). She subsequently starred in several film and television roles, including the 1996 made-for-television film The Babysitter's Seduction. That year she also had a role on the short-lived soap opera series Malibu Shores.
In 1994, Russell appeared as the "other woman" in Bon Jovi's music video "Always". In 1997, she appeared in two episodes of Roar.
From 1998 to 2002, Russell starred as the title character on the successful WB Network series Felicity, and in 1999 won a Golden Globe for the role.
During the show's run, Russell appeared in the films Eight Days a Week, The Curve and Mad About Mambo, all of which received only limited releases in North America. Her next role was in the film We Were Soldiers (2002), playing the wife of a United States serviceman during the Vietnam War. The film was released two months before the end of Felicity's run.
=== 2003–2012: Theater and film roles ===
When Felicity ended, Russell moved to New York City and made her off-Broadway stage debut in 2004 in Neil LaBute's Fat Pig. In 2005, she returned to television and film, beginning with an appearance in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie The Magic of Ordinary Days, the theatrical film The Upside of Anger, and the television miniseries Into the West. In 2005, director J. J. Abrams asked Russell to join the cast of Mission: Impossible III, and she accepted. She was screen tested for the role of Lois Lane in Superman Returns but lost the part to Kate Bosworth.
In mid-2006, Russell was chosen to be a celebrity spokeswoman for CoverGirl cosmetics. In the summer of 2007, Russell appeared in The Keri Kronicles, a reality show sitcom sponsored by CoverGirl and airing on MySpace; the show was filmed at Russell's home in Manhattan and spotlighted her life. Also in 2007, she played Melody on the NBC show Scrubs.
Russell next starred in the film Waitress, which marked the fourth time she played a pregnant woman. Her performance was positively received by critics, with Michael Sragow of The Baltimore Sun writing that Russell's performance had "aesthetic character" and "wields tenderness and fierceness with quiet heat". In 2007, Russell also completed roles in Grimm Love and The Girl in the Park.
Russell next appeared in August Rush, released in November 2007. Russell later appeared in Bedtime Stories. In an appearance on The View on December 15, 2008, Russell said she got the part because Adam Sandler's wife Jackie had seen her in Waitress and suggested her for the movie. Russell voiced Wonder Woman in a direct-to-video animated feature released on March 3, 2009.
Russell starred in the Tom Vaughan-helmed Extraordinary Measures for CBS Films. The drama, which started filming on April 6, 2009, and was released on January 22, 2010, was the first film to go into production for the new company. Russell played Aileen Crowley, a mother who tries to build a normal home life for her sick children while her husband and an unconventional scientist race against time to find a cure. Russell starred in the Fox series Running Wilde from 2010 to 2011.
=== 2013–present: The Americans and The Diplomat ===
From 2013 to 2018, she starred in the FX drama series The Americans, playing Elizabeth Jennings, a deep-undercover Russian KGB spy living as an American in the 1980s Cold War era. She appeared opposite Matthew Rhys, who portrays her character's husband and spy partner. Russell and Rhys became partners in real life during this time. The series ended after six seasons. For her performance, she was nominated for three consecutive Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, as well as two Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. Emily St. James of Vox praised her performance describing it as "gorgeously restrained".
In 2013, Russell starred in the science-fiction horror film Dark Skies and the romantic comedy film Austenland. In 2014, she starred in the science fiction action film Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a sequel to 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes. She starred as Serena Knight in the 2016 historical war film Free State of Jones. In 2017, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In July 2018, Russell was announced to have joined the cast of the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which was released on December 20, 2019. The film reunited her with J.J. Abrams, with whom she had worked on Felicity and Mission: Impossible III.
In March 2019, she starred in the first Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson's play Burn This at the Hudson Theatre. Frank Rizzo of Variety wrote of her performance, "Russell, whose stage credits are slim but who's proven her chops onscreen in The Americans, creates a vivid, if less flashy, performance", adding, "Still, she's a force in her own right."
In 2023, Russell began starring in The Diplomat, a political series on Netflix from writer and producer Debora Cahn.
== Personal life ==
In 2006, Russell became engaged to Shane Deary, a Brooklyn-based contractor she met through mutual friends. They married in New York on February 14, 2007. They have two children: a son born in 2007 and a daughter born in 2011. Russell and Deary separated in early 2013 and divorced in mid-2014. Since 2014, she has been in a relationship with Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, her co-star in The Americans. They have a son, born in 2016. In interviews conducted in 2021, Russell and Rhys referred to each other as husband and wife, although in an interview in 2025, Rhys said "we literally haven't got round to marriage yet".
== Acting credits ==
=== Film ===
=== Television ===
=== Theater ===
=== Music videos ===
=== Video games ===
== Awards and nominations ==
== Notes ==
== References ==
== External links ==
Keri Russell at IMDb
Keri Russell at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
Keri Russell at the Internet Broadway Database
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