Keri Russellhas been working as an actress since she was a teenager and has gone on to star in some truly great movies and TV shows over the years. She made her debut in 1991, joiningthe cast ofThe All-New Mickey Mouse Club, a variety show that included several cast members who would go on to achieve incredible success in the entertainment industry, including Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling, and Christina Aguilera. Russell has appeared in a variety of films in her career as well, includingWaitress,August Rush,We Were Soldiers, andDawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Some of Russell’s most substantial work has come in the television industry, though, as her major breakthrough came from her role as the titular character inFelicity, which began in the late ’90s. She has also had major roles inThe Americans, and her latest role,The Diplomat,with season 3 set to be released sometime in 2025.
Cast
August Rushis a sweet, moving musical drama about a young music prodigy living in an orphanage who runs away to New York City, unraveling the mystery of who he is while his mother desperately searches for him and his father searches for her. Touching and a tad bit melodramatic,August Rushis a definite crowd-pleaser that ends with a triumphant song full of hope and love. It’s incredibly easy to watch.
Keri Russell plays Lyla Novacek inAugust Rush, mother of Freddie Highmore’s Evan Taylor, who gave birth to him prematurely due to a car accident. When Lyla is in the hospital, her father secretly puts him up for adoption, and 11 years later, she learns her son is alive, and she sets off to try and find him. It’s a heartbreaking circumstance, but Lyla’s journey throughAugust Rushto find her son is poignant, andher love story with Jonathan Rhys Meyers' Louis Connelly is incredibly sweet.
Consisting of six two-hour episodes,Into the Westis an epic Western miniseries that spans the 1820s to 1890, focusing mostly on two different families — one white and one Native American — and how their lives are intertwined.Into the Westhas a massive cast of characters, as each episode is essentially its own film, with throughline narrative threads connecting most of them together. It’s an intricate, beautiful, and profoundly ambitious television show that largely succeeds.
It’s an intricate, beautiful, and profoundly ambitious television show that largely succeeds.
Keri Russell appears in episode one, “Manifest Destiny”, inInto the West. She plays Naomi Wheeler, who is eventually sold into slavery after her husband dies, but is saved by Jay Tavare’s Prairie Fire, and she begins to live among the Lakota, building out a new life with him. Her character goes through some incredibly tragic events during her episode, andRussell does a truly fine job exploring the depth of her grief and suffering. It can be hard to watch, but engrossing all the same.
Like several other J.J. Abrams-directed movies in pre-established franchises,Mission: Impossible IIIis a new direction for the series after the first two films, earning stronger reviews and setting the stage for Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt going forward. The film revolves around a retired Ethan Hunt who is forced to return to duty to go after an arms dealer.Mission: Impossible IIIis gorgeous, looking much different than the two prior installments while still featuring all the impressive action the franchise is known for.
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Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
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Though it isn’t a massive role in the movie, Keri Russell is pretty great as Lindsay Farris, an IMF agent who is held captive in Berlin. Ethan Hunt served as her mentor, and her capture is the reason for him to come out of retirement fully. Russell channels the urgent desperation her character finds herself in incredibly well, andher being the reason for Ethan Hunt to come back sent a ripple effect for the rest of the franchise.
A touching look at starting over and the difficulties that entails,The Upside of Angeris a wonderful romantic comedy about Terry Wolfmeyer (Joan Allen), a woman left to fend for herself and her four daughters after her husband leaves her for his secretary. Following that, she strikes up a friendship with her next-door neighbor, and it soon blossoms into something more.The Upside of Angeris often a funny and incredibly touching movie bolstered by some terrific lead performances from Allen and Kevin Costner.
Keri Russell plays Emily Wolfmeyer inThe Upside of Anger, one of Terry’s daughters who wants to pursue ballet instead of going to a traditional college, and is hospitalized for an eating disorder at the same time. She gets time to stay with her mom, and the two begin to understand each other better, withRussell delivering a fantastic performance alongside Allen, as it is tender and empathetic.
The All New Mickey Mouse Club
The All New Mickey Mouse Club is a revival of the original 1950s variety show, featuring a mix of musical performances, comedy sketches, and celebrity guests. Launched in 1989, the series became notable for showcasing future stars like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera.
Disney decided to relaunch its iconic variety show in the late ’80s after reruns of the original few series began once the Disney Channel was launched in 1983. Hoping to make it more up-to-date with modern culture,The All-New Mickey Mouse Clubwas born and would go on to include some incredibly successful singers and actors along the way, including Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Keri Russell. The series featured a variety of skits, live performances, and music videos.
The All-New Mickey Mouse Clubwas Russell’s first foray into the acting industryas she joined the cast in 1991 at the age of 15. She remained a cast member for several years, appearing in a variety of skits and various other performances and videos during her time on the show. It was her first foot in the door, and like many other cast members, proved invaluable to her career.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
A decade after a deadly virus decimates humanity, a burgeoning society of intelligent apes, led by Caesar, finds its peaceful existence threatened by a group of human survivors who stumble upon their sanctuary. As both sides grapple with fear and mistrust, Caesar works to broker peace despite growing hostilities. The tension escalates, leading to a dramatic clash that will determine the future of both species.
Director Matt Reeves took everything that worked extremely well inRise of the Planet of the Apesand made it even better inDawn of the Planet of the Apes. The sequel to the rebooted prequel series takes place 10 years after its predecessor, as a deadly pandemic has wiped out a sizable portion of humanity, leaving the survivors to fend for themselves as apes continue to thrive. It’s tense and stunningly beautiful, with some of the best VFX work ever seen at the time of its release.
Planet Of The Apes: All Movie Timelines Explained
A complete guide to every timeline introduced in the Planet of the Apes franchise, from the original timeline to the prequels' timeline.
Keri Russell plays one of the human survivors, Ellie. Ellie is a former nurse at the Centers for Disease Control and the wife of Jason Clarke’s Malcolm, and they form a bond with Caesar and most of the other apes. Russell’s Ellie is incredibly understanding of the apes and genuinely wants to help them while trying to save humanity, andshe does a remarkable job at portraying the empathy she has for all beings involved.
The Diplomat
Set within the high-stakes world of international diplomacy, The Diplomat follows the challenges and intricacies faced by an ambassador as they navigate complex geopolitical landscapes. The series explores the delicate balance between personal and professional responsibilities amidst global tensions and the pursuit of peace.
Centering on Keri Russell’s Katherine “Kate” Walsh, the newly appointed US ambassador to the UK,The Diplomatfocuses on her helping to diffuse an international crisis and forging alliances, all while trying to save her failing marriage to a fellow diplomat. What works so well aboutThe Diplomatis how accessible it makes highly complex geopolitical issues while staying accurate to how they actually work. It’s an incredibly fun series despite the subject matter that many might think is dry.
Russell is firing on all cylinders in the role as a large portion of the series falls on her shoulders. Kate Wyler expertly navigates most political situations she finds herself in, andKeri Russell plays her with a fantastic authenticity, making her character feel like an actual person.
Telling the story of a young, pregnant woman working in a small town as a waitress and trapped in an abusive marriage,Waitressis a witty, insightful, and often poignant romantic dramedy that features a stellar central performance by Keri Russell. Despite some of its heavier subject matter,Waitressis genuinely touching and heartfelt, with truly delightful moments featured throughout, especially through the growth of its main character.
Russell leads the way inWaitressas she perfectly plays Jenna Hunterson. The character often wants more for her life, and Russell is able to capture that longing in an incredible way, filling the character with quiet yearning while also trying to make it through her current circumstances.There is a lot of complexity underneath the surface of Jenna Hunterson, and Russell is able to find that in her performance.
Running for six seasons,The Americansis a period spy drama revolving around two KGB intelligent officers in the Cold War posing as a couple living in Falls Church, a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C. They attempt to balance their spy duties with raising their two American-born children. On top of being a fantastic spy series,The Americansis also a fantastic look at marriage, parenthood, and identity. The series is very well written, featuring all the spy espionage that fans could want.
Keri Russell earned three Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role inThe Americans.
Keri Russell stars as Elizabeth Jennings (Nadezhda), a KGB officer and wife of Matthew Rhys' Philip Jennings (Mischa). Her allegiance to the Soviet Union is stronger than Philip’s as well. Russell is outstanding inThe Americans, which isarguably some of the best work of her entire career, and her chemistry with Rhys (her real-life partner) is one of the show’s greatest strengths.
Revolving around Felicity Porter,Felicityfollows the character through her time at the University of New York. The series highlights the ups and downs of her growing up and stepping out of the sheltered West Coast life she once lived. It is an authentic look at a young woman just hoping to make sense of her life, and it is always understanding and patient with her journey.
Felicitywas Keri Russell’s first big breakthrough as an actress, eventually earning her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Drama. She is simply remarkable throughout the entirety of the series, crafting an incredibly complex character in the process. Felicity is quite intelligent but can often be rash and impulsive, which Russell does an excellent job balancing throughout her performance as the titular character. It’s a stellar performance in a stellar show, and the best ofKeri Russell’scareer.
