Her name may be Keri Russell, but to many, she’ll forever be remembered as Felicity, the curly-haired star of the beloved teen drama Felicity. In fact, that signature hairstyle was even named one of television’s most iconic by Glamour.
However, both Russell and her famous curls have gone through an incredible transformation since then. She’s evolved from a teen ingénue to a captivating femme fatale in The Americans and expanded her career from TV to blockbuster films like the Mission: Impossible and Planet of the Apes franchises (via IMDb).
Though she tends to keep her private life more under wraps than many of her peers, some aspects have still made headlines. Fans have gotten a glimpse into her personal life, especially her relationship with Matthew Rhys, her co-star turned romantic partner.
Despite a remarkable 30-year career, Russell remains humble about her success. “I haven’t had some grand plan… I’ve been incredibly lucky and had some great opportunities. There’s no rhyme or reason,” she told Variety. Keep reading to discover the stunning transformation of Keri Russell.
#1. Keri Russell originally wanted to be a dancer
It’s hard to imagine that the actress behind one of television’s most iconic roles never set out to be an actress at all, but that was the case for Keri Russell.
Growing up in Arizona and later Colorado — moving frequently due to her father’s job as a Nissan executive (via Celebrity Net Worth) — Russell always dreamed of performing, but her true passion was dance (via The Hollywood Reporter). At just 13, she earned a scholarship to a dance school, setting her career in motion.
“I didn’t grow up desperate to be an actress… I was a dancer. That’s really the only thing I’m trained in,” she shared during an interview on Off Camera with Sam Jones.
In the end, it was dance that opened the door to stardom for Russell, although not in the way she had originally envisioned. Her years of dedication and training ultimately led her to audition for The Mickey Mouse Club, marking the start of her unexpected rise to fame.
#2. Keri Russell began her career with The Mickey Mouse Club
When Keri Russell auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club, she was asked to dance and sing, she told W magazine. While the dancing was no problem, singing wasn’t her strong suit, and she wasn’t shy about admitting it.
Fortunately, that didn’t stand in her way. Russell joined the cast of the hit kids’ show, which would go on to launch the careers of numerous future superstars. From 1991 to 1994, she performed alongside fellow Mouseketeers like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and Justin Timberlake (via The Hollywood Reporter). In videos from the era, Russell and her co-stars can be seen performing choreographed routines to their own renditions of popular songs.
At 17, Russell was older than most of the cast. “I like to remind everyone that they were 12 when I was 17, so… I could drive,” she joked during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Despite the age gap, Russell still keeps in touch with her former castmates whenever she runs into them.
#3. Felicity made Keri Russell a teen icon
On Felicity, Keri Russell portrayed the title character, a young woman who impulsively follows her high school crush, Ben, to college in New York City — despite the fact that he has shown little interest in her (via The New York Times).
The show became a major success for the WB network, with teenage viewers becoming deeply invested in Felicity’s journey as she navigates life, love, and the ultimate decision between two men: Ben, her long-time crush, or Noel, the kind resident assistant she meets at school.
The series, which aired from 1998 to 2002, was an instant hit. It received two Golden Globe nominations for its debut season, including Best Drama Series and Best Actress, as reported by Vulture. A stunned 22-year-old Russell took home the award for best actress, beating seasoned competitors like Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) and Julianna Margulies (ER).
In her humble acceptance speech, Russell said, “This is so… encouraging is the word that comes to mind, more than thanks.” She expressed her pride in the show and thanked creator J.J. Abrams for taking a chance on her.
#4. Keri Russell cut her hair — and made headlines
To grasp just how iconic Felicity was — and how crucial Keri Russell was to its success — one need only remember the “Great Haircut Drama” of 1999. As W magazine reported, going into the second season, Russell and show creator J.J. Abrams decided she should cut her hair to reflect Felicity’s emotional heartbreak. Seemingly a minor change, right? Not exactly.
When Russell’s signature long, curly locks were chopped into a short pixie cut, it sent shockwaves through fans — not just among teens, but adults, too. Complaints poured in, and, according to The Baltimore Sun, the show’s ratings dropped significantly. The backlash was so intense that Susanne Daniels, then head of programming at The WB, put a ban on the network’s actors making drastic changes to their hair.
Russell took the brunt of the blame, with people even approaching her in public to comment on how they preferred her appearance before the haircut, as she shared with W. Despite the criticism, she never regretted the decision, standing by it as the right choice for both her character and herself. “That long hair was how people identified me. So, it was nice to be out of that,” she reflected.
#5. She questioned whether she wanted to keep acting
After Felicity ended, Keri Russell took a cue from her character and moved to New York City — but it wasn’t for a romantic pursuit. Instead, she was completely burned out. She stepped away from Hollywood, taking a few years off to escape the pressures of fame, the grueling workload, and the expectations that came with stardom.
“I wasn’t surviving,” she candidly revealed to New York magazine. At that point, she wasn’t even certain she wanted to continue acting, especially since it had never been her planned career path.
Playing such an iconic character at a young age came with its challenges. Russell hadn’t yet had the opportunity to figure out who she truly was, as she shared on Off Camera with Sam Jones. Filming Felicity meant missing out on typical teenage experiences, leaving her feeling disconnected from her own life.
Taking this personal time allowed her to “kind of be a kid and, you know, read books and wander the city,” as she put it. With no desire to climb further into the spotlight, Russell prioritized her mental health and made the choice to take care of herself first.
#6. After moving to New York, Keri Russell hit the stage
When Keri Russell was ready to return to acting, she didn’t immediately go back to television. Instead, she decided to explore stage acting, fully immersing herself in the challenge.
In 2004, Russell starred in the off-Broadway production of Fat Pig, a drama by renowned playwright Neil LaBute, alongside lead actor Jeremy Piven. Her portrayal of Jeannie, a supporting character, received mostly positive reviews.
New York magazine called her performance “perfection,” while Variety acknowledged her talent but noted that her “lack of stage experience” was apparent in her movements.
Russell’s role in Fat Pig was a significant departure from the innocent, good-girl image she had been associated with since Felicity. Her character was sharp-tongued and cruel, and her ability to embody this role surprised many.
Gothamist remarked on how convincingly she played the “acid-tongued” character. Russell, thrilled to break free from typecasting, told New York magazine, “Who knew it was so fun to be mean? I’d been missing out all this time!”
#7. The actress became a CoverGirl
In 2006, Keri Russell became a spokeswoman for CoverGirl cosmetics, her first big modeling gig. “When I first started, I did do a commercial for a deodorant or something,” she told CBS. “I don’t even think it aired. This is the first thing I’ve done like this.” She joined a famous list of faces that includes Tyra Banks, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna (via E!).
Russell was hired to promote a new Outlast Double LipShine — and the creative team definitely came up with a creative way for her to do so. Perhaps trying to play off her role in 2006’s “Mission: Impossible III” (via IMDb), the actress goes up against a group of attackers in the campaign’s TV commercial, which she called more of an action shot. (Needless to say, her lipstick remains flawless throughout the fight sequence.)
But Russell’s new job went beyond the usual TV and magazine ads. As part of her promotional work she filmed “The Keri Kronicles,” a reality show for MySpace that claimed to offer a look into her life, New York Post reported. Sadly, it appears to have been wiped from the Internet.
#8. For a while, Keri Russell kept getting typecast as a pregnant woman
In 2006, Keri Russell stepped into the spotlight as a spokeswoman for CoverGirl cosmetics, marking her first significant foray into modeling. Reflecting on her early experiences, she shared with CBS:
“When I first started, I did do a commercial for a deodorant or something. I don’t even think it aired. This is the first thing I’ve done like this.” With this role, she joined a prestigious roster of faces, including Tyra Banks, Taylor Swift, and Rihanna (via E!).
Russell was brought on board to promote the new Outlast Double LipShine, and the creative team devised an exciting campaign for her. Perhaps inspired by her role in Mission: Impossible III (via IMDb), the commercial features Russell battling a group of attackers, which she likened to an action short. Remarkably, her lipstick remains impeccable throughout the entire fight sequence.
Her role as a CoverGirl ambassador extended beyond typical TV and magazine advertisements. As part of her promotional efforts, she filmed The Keri Kronicles, a reality series for MySpace that aimed to provide a glimpse into her life, as reported by the New York Post. Unfortunately, this series seems to have been lost to the Internet over time.
#9. Keri Russell’s first marriage ended in divorce
As fate would have it, while Keri Russell was promoting her role as the pregnant Jenna in Waitress, she herself was expecting. She gave birth to her son, River, in June 2007. Earlier that year, on Valentine’s Day, she married his father, Shane Deary.
However, their happy family would not last; the couple, who later welcomed a daughter named Willa, separated in the summer of 2012 (via Us Weekly).
Russell met Shane, a carpenter, through friends in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, as reported by The Independent. Their intimate wedding took place during a snowstorm in New York, as People noted, while Russell was in her second trimester.
Following the announcement of their separation, the actress’s representative stated to E! News that the breakup was “amicable.” Since then, Keri Russell has chosen to remain private about this emotional chapter of her life.
#10. On The Americans, Keri Russell got dark
If Keri Russell had any lingering traces of Felicity’s persona, she completely shed them with her role as Elizabeth Jennings on The Americans.
The FX drama series, which premiered in 2013 (via The Hollywood Reporter), delves into the lives of a seemingly all-American couple with two children who are actually Russian KGB spies living undercover in the United States during the Cold War. Although inspired by a real-life case (via Quartz), the narrative itself was entirely fictional.
The show ran for six gripping seasons and was characterized as dark, sad, sexy, violent, and — most importantly — excellent, according to Variety. At the heart of the series was Russell’s character, Elizabeth, who emerged as the lead instigator, emotionally detached from the killings and other morally ambiguous actions that their espionage careers demanded.
This complex role earned Russell three Emmy nominations, as noted by Vanity Fair, although she always went home empty-handed. Nonetheless, she regarded it as the role of a lifetime. “I rebelled in her, kind of, panther-like sub-fearlessness… She’s not afraid to look everyone in the eye and live in the uncomfortable, weird silences,” she reflected on her portrayal.
#11. The TV star found a new love on set
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys began dating while starring together on The Americans, but their love story has an adorable backstory.
As the couple revealed on an episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, they first met years earlier at a kickball party, where Rhys asked Russell for her number and later left her a drunken voicemail. She never called him back—at least not for about a decade. After months of speculation, they confirmed their relationship in 2014 (via People).
Their on-screen chemistry is evident in every clip featuring the two; they consistently make each other smile and laugh. Rhys’ Emmy acceptance speech, where he jokingly mentioned that if he proposed to Russell, she would punch him, showcased their playful dynamic, and her viral reaction added to the charm.
The spark between them was also clear on set. While The Americans featured numerous intimate scenes, the director was initially concerned about how one particularly steamy scene would play out. However, Russell recounted that they tackled it head-on:
“We kind of did it and just did it right away.” Their colleague noticed their comfort level, saying, “They’re way too comfortable together,” hinting at the off-camera intimacy that had developed between them.
#12. Keri Russell tries to balance career with motherhood
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys welcomed their first child together, a son named Sam, in May 2020, making Russell a mother of three. When it comes to balancing her family life and career, she prioritizes her children, explaining to Town & Country that she carefully chooses roles that allow her to be present for her family.
“I see a lot of other people who have great ambition, but I feel as if my life is so full, with little kids,” she shared. “I’m not hungry for a certain kind of success.”
Russell speaks candidly about the challenges of parenting and how it has impacted her. She feels more emotional and “vulnerable” since becoming a mother, and her children have helped her become “less selfish” and more grounded, as she mentioned to Parade.
Her relationship with Rhys has also evolved. On Late Night with Seth Meyers, she humorously revealed that while they used to sneak away during press tours for romantic moments in bathrooms, they now request their driver to pull over so they can catch a quick nap before the next interview. It’s a relatable glimpse into their lives as busy parents in the spotlight.
#13. She worries her career has an expiration date
Like many Hollywood actresses approaching middle age, Keri Russell is mindful of her career’s “lifespan.” In an interview with Town & Country, she expressed concerns about the limited opportunities for women in the industry.
Research highlighted by The Washington Post reveals that after age 40, men receive 80% of available roles, leaving only 20% for women—a disparity that likely hasn’t improved since the study’s data was analyzed in 2011.
To combat this inequality, some actresses have taken matters into their own hands by founding production companies and championing female-driven projects. For instance, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine media company is a prominent example.
However, Russell isn’t keen on taking on such a demanding role. “I can’t imagine running a big company as well as what I’m doing, or producing 8,000 things,” she noted in the Town & Country interview.
Fortunately for Russell, her acting career remains vibrant. According to her IMDb page, she continued her streak of action roles with Zorii Bliss in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) and has also appeared in the horror film Antlers (2021) and Cocaine Bear, directed by Elizabeth Banks. It seems that, for now, she doesn’t have to worry about her place in Hollywood.
#14. When it comes to aging, Keri Russell takes it stride
Keri Russell seems to embrace aging with a positive attitude. In an interview with Shape, she expressed her admiration for people who look great for their age, saying, “Oh, I do want that. I do want to look like that at 60.” However, she’s not quite ready to commit to a strict regimen to achieve it.
Her experience in The Americans and other action roles has kept her physically active, and she identifies as “definitely a physical person.” Russell enjoys a variety of workouts, including cycling, strength training with resistance bands, and, unsurprisingly, dancing.
When it comes to skincare, she keeps her routine simple, opting for a good moisturizer, occasional facials, and using the NuFace facial toning device to help maintain her complexion.
As she ages, Russell has developed a greater interest in fashion. She told Yahoo! Style that she prefers tailored, “masculine” looks that accentuate her shoulders.
However, she’s not afraid to take risks, as evidenced by the striking blush Zuhair Murad Couture gown she wore to the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, complete with an extravagant lacy train and feather boa. This willingness to experiment showcases her confidence and evolving sense of style as she navigates the next chapter of her life.
