Keri Russell

Keri Russell

A young woman in a white top looks at the camera. Behind her is a wall with white and yellow logos.

Russell in 2009.
Born Keri Lynn Russell
March 23, 1976
Fountain Valley, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress, dancer
Years active 1991–present
Spouse(s) Shane Deary (m. 2007; separated 2013)
Children 2

Keri Lynn Russell (born March 23, 1976)[1] is an American actress and dancer. After appearing in a number of made-for-TV films and series during the mid-1990s, she came to fame for portraying the title role of Felicity Porter on the series Felicity, which ran from 1998 to 2002, and for which she won a Golden Globe Award. Russell has since appeared in several films including Mission: Impossible III (2006), Waitress (2007), August Rush (2007), Extraordinary Measures (2010), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and currently stars in the FX television series The Americans.

Early life

Russell was born in Fountain Valley, California, the daughter of Stephanie (née Stephens), a homemaker, and David Russell, a Nissan Motors executive.[2] She has an older brother, Todd, and a younger sister, Julie. The family lived in Coppell, Texas; Mesa, Arizona; and Highlands Ranch, Colorado, moving frequently because of the father's employment. Russell's dancing earned her a spot on the Mickey Mouse Club.[3]

Career

1991–2002

Russell first appeared on television at age 15 as a cast member of the All-New Mickey Mouse Club variety show on the Disney Channel.[4] She was on the show from 1991 to 1994 (Seasons 4–6) and co-starred with future actor Ryan Gosling and future pop stars Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, and Tony Lucca.[5]

In 1992, she appeared in Honey, I Blew Up the Kid alongside Rick Moranis and in 1993, had a role on the sitcom Boy Meets World as Mr. Feeny's niece. Russell 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.[3] That year she also had a role on the short-lived soap opera series Malibu Shores.[3]

In 1994, she appeared as the "other woman" in Bon Jovi's music video "Always" with Jack Noseworthy, Carla Gugino, and Jason Wiles.[6] In 1997, she appeared in two episodes of Roar alongside Heath Ledger.[3]

From 1998 to 2002, Russell starred as the title character on the successful WB Network series Felicity; she won a Golden Globe for the role in 1999. Russell's long and curly hair was one of her character's defining characteristics. A drastic hairstyle change at the beginning of the show's second season was thought to cause a significant drop in the show's television ratings.[7]

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),[3] 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–present

Russell at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 premiere, November 2010.

When Felicity ended, Russell moved to New York City and made her off-Broadway stage debut in 2004, appearing opposite Jeremy Piven, Andrew McCarthy, and Ashlie Atkinson in Neil LaBute's Fat Pig.[8] 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, theatrical film The Upside of Anger (alongside Kevin Costner, Joan Allen and Evan Rachel Wood), and the television miniseries Into the West. Directing Mission: Impossible III in 2005, J. J. Abrams asked Russell to join the cast and she accepted. She was screen tested for the role of Lois Lane in Superman Returns but lost the role to Kate Bosworth.[9]

In the summer of 2006, Russell was chosen to be a celebrity spokeswoman for CoverGirl Cosmetics.[10] 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.[11] Also in 2007, she played "Melody" on the NBC show Scrubs.

Russell next starred in the film Waitress, which marked the fourth time Russell had played a pregnant woman.[12] Russell's performance—opposite Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith and the film's director Adrienne Shelley—was positively received by critics,[11] with Michael Sragow of The Baltimore Sun writing that Russell's performance had "aesthetic character" and "wields tenderness and fierceness with quiet heat".[13] In 2007, Russell also completed roles in Butterfly: A Grimm Love Story (titled Rohtenburg for its German release), in which she played Katie Armstrong, a graduate student who writes a thesis paper on an infamous cannibal murder case, and the thriller The Girl in the Park, opposite Sigourney Weaver, Kate Bosworth and Alessandro Nivola.

Russell next appeared in August Rush, released in November 2007. She also appeared on the cover of the New York Post's Page Six magazine on November 11, 2007.[14] Russell later appeared in Bedtime Stories.[15] In an appearance on The View on December 15, 2008, Russell said she got the part because Sandler's wife Jackie had seen Russell in Waitress and suggested her for the movie. Russell voiced Wonder Woman in a direct-to-video animated feature released March 3, 2009.[16]

She starred alongside Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford in the Tom Vaughan-helmed Extraordinary Measures[17][18] 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.[3][19] Russell played Aileen Crowley, a mother who tries to build a normal home life for her sick children while her husband, John (Fraser), and an unconventional scientist (Ford) race against time to find a cure.[20]

Russell starred in the Fox series Running Wilde, from 2010 to 2011.[21] Since 2013, she has starred in the FX series The Americans, playing a deep undercover KGB spy living as an American in the early 1980s.[22]

In 2014, Russell starred in the film Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a sequel to the 2011 movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes alongside actors Andy Serkis and Gary Oldman.[23]

Personal life

Russell and Shane Deary, a carpenter she met through mutual friends,[12] became engaged in 2006 and were married on February 14, 2007, in New York.[24] The couple separated in early summer 2013, after six years of marriage, which was confirmed by Russell's representation after media queries about her family's whereabouts when the actress' home was burglarized in early December of that year.[25] Russell and Deary have two children together, son River Russell Deary (born June 9, 2007)[26] and daughter Willa Lou Deary (born December 27, 2011).[27]

In early 2014 it was confirmed that Russell and her Americans co-star Matthew Rhys are a couple.[28]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Honey, I Blew Up the Kid Mandy Park
1995 Clerks. Sandra Television film
1996 Babysitter's Seduction, TheThe Babysitter's Seduction Michelle Winston Television film
1996 Lottery, TheThe Lottery Felice Dunbar Television film
1997 When Innocence Is Lost Erica French Television film
1997 Eight Days a Week Erica
1998 Curve, TheThe Curve Emma AKA, Dead
1999 CinderElmo Princess Television film
2000 Mad About Mambo Lucy McLoughlin
2002 We Were Soldiers Barbara Geoghegan
2005 Upside of Anger, TheThe Upside of Anger Emily Wolfmeyer
2005 Magic of Ordinary Days, TheThe Magic of Ordinary Days Olivia "Livvy" Dunne Television film
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
2006 Mission: Impossible III Lindsey Farris Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Drama/Action Adventure
2006 Grimm Love Katie
2007 Waitress Jenna Hunterson
2007 Girl in the Park, TheThe Girl in the Park Celeste
2007 August Rush Lyla Novacek Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Drama
2008 Bedtime Stories Jill
2009 Wonder Woman Wonder Woman (voice) Video
2009 Leaves of Grass Janet
2010 Extraordinary Measures Aileen Crowley
2012 Goats Judy
2013 Austenland Jane Hayes
2013 Dark Skies Lacy Barrett
2014 Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Ellie
2016 The Free State of Jones Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1991–1993 Mickey Mouse Club Herself Variety show
1993 Boy Meets World Jessica Episode: "Grandma Was a Rolling Stone"
1994 Daddy's Girls Phoebe Walker 3 episodes
1995 Married... with Children April Adams Episode: "Radio Free Trumaine"
1996 Malibu Shores Chloe Walker 10 episodes
1997 7th Heaven Camille Episode: "Choices"
1997 Roar Claire 2 episodes
1998–2002 Felicity Felicity Porter 84 episodes
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Performance
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress (1999–2002)
2005 Into the West Naomi Wheeler Episode: "Manifest Destiny"
2007 Scrubs Melody O'Hara 2 episodes
2010–2011 Running Wilde Emmy Kadubic 13 episodes
2013–present Americans, TheThe Americans Elizabeth Jennings 39 episodes
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (2013–14)
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television
2013 Arrested Development Widow Carr (voice) Episode: "Señoritis"

Awards and nominations

Awards
Year Award Category Production Result
1993 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Youth Series or Variety Show The All New Mickey Mouse Club Nominated
1993 Young Artist Award Best Young Actress Co-Starring in a Motion Picture Honey, I Blew Up the Kid Nominated
1999 Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series – Drama Felicity Won
1999 Teen Choice Award TV – Choice Actress Felicity Nominated
1999 Teen Choice Award TV – Breakout Performance Felicity Won
2000 Teen Choice Award TV – Choice Actress Felicity Nominated
2001 Teen Choice Award TV – Choice Actress Felicity Nominated
2002 Teen Choice Award TV – Choice Actress, Drama Felicity Nominated
2005 Satellite Award Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television The Magic of Ordinary Days Nominated
2006 Teen Choice Award Movies – Choice Actress: Drama/Action Adventure Mission: Impossible III Nominated
2006 Camie The Magic of Ordinary Days Won
2007 EDA Awards Best Seduction Shared with Nathan Fillion Waitress Nominated
2008 Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actress: Drama August Rush Nominated
2013 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Drama Actress The Americans Nominated
2014 Satellite Award Best Actress – Television Series Drama The Americans Nominated
2014 Saturn Awards Best Actress on Television The Americans Nominated
2015 Satellite Awards Best Actress – Television Series Drama The Americans Won

References

  1. ↑ Keri Russell Biography. People.com Retrieved 2013-12-05
  2. ↑ Myers, Chuck (2000-08-16). "1st Person: Keri Russell". Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Keri Russell- Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  4. ↑ "Six Massive Stars who Started out in the Mickey Mouse Club". DisneyFanClub.org. 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  5. ↑ Wells, Rachel (2007-10-07). "Waiting game". TheAge.com.au. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  6. ↑ "Keri Russell:Five Fun Facts". People.com. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  7. ↑ Walters, David (2008-12-01). "There's Something about Keri". Style.com.
  8. ↑ King, Susan (2007-05-09). "Life follows fiction for Keri Russell". DenverPost.com. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
  9. ↑ "Keri Russell: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  10. ↑ "Keri Russell takes a turn as Cover Girl". USA Today. 2006-07-11. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Gould Keil, Jennifer (2007-05-13). "Covergirl Keri Russell Shoots Web". NYPost.com. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Bonnelli, Winnie (2007-05-16). "Waitress Serves Up Keri Russell". IndyEastend.com (The Independent). Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  13. ↑ Sragow, Michael (2007-05-25). "Keri Russell is a delight in scrumptious 'Waitress'". BaltimoreSun.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  14. ↑ Long, April (2007-11-11). "'Breastfeeding is miraculous'". Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  15. ↑ "Keri Russell helps tell Bedtime Stories". TotalFilm.com. 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  16. ↑ Ryan, Joan (December 5, 2013). "Meet the 9 Wonder Women of Yore". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Extraordinary Measures (2010)". IMDb. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  18. ↑ "News and Culture: Brenden Fraser’s Untitled Crowley Project Now Has (Another) Terrible Title". Willamette Week. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  19. ↑ "Keri Russell's "Extraordinary" Role". CBS. 2010-06-18. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  20. ↑ "Keri Russell nurses CBS film role". Variety. 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  21. ↑ ‘Running Wilde’ Races for an Audience
  22. ↑ "Keri Russell to Star in FX's 'The Americans'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  23. ↑ "Keri Russell, Andy Serkis talk "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes"". Cbs news. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  24. ↑ Jordan, Julie (2007-02-15). "Keri Russell Marries in New York". People. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  25. ↑ Elizabeth Leonard (2013-05-12). "Keri Russell and Shane Deary Separate". People.
  26. ↑ "Keri Russell Gives Birth to a Boy". People. 2007-06-18. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  27. ↑ "Keri Russell Welcomes Daughter Willa Lou". People. 2012-01-05. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  28. ↑ Janine Rayford Rubenstein (1 April 2014). "Keri Russell Is Dating Matthew Rhys". People. Retrieved 22 April 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Keri Russell.
Preceded by
Lucy Lawless (2008)		 Actress to voice Wonder Woman
2009 		Succeeded by
Vanessa Marshall