Keri Russell is an acclaimed American actress best known for her portrayal of Felicity Porter on the WB drama series Felicity, a role that brought her critical praise and a Golden Globe Award.
Keri Lynn Russell was born on March 23, 1976, in Fountain Valley, California, to David Russell, a Nissan Motors executive, and Stephanie Stephens, a homemaker. She has two siblings, Todd and Julie Russell. Due to her father's job, the family relocated frequently, and she attended Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado during her teenage years.
Russell began her career in entertainment at age 15 when she joined the cast of Disney Channel’s All-New Mickey Mouse Club in 1991, where she appeared alongside future stars like Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. She made her film debut in 1992 with a role in the sci-fi comedy Honey, I Blew Up the Kid. She followed with guest appearances on television shows and starred in the teen drama Malibu Shores.
In 1994, she featured in the music video for Bon Jovi's “Always,” alongside Jack Noseworthy, Jason Wiles, and Carla Gugino. Her early career was defined by diverse roles that helped showcase her versatility and pave the way for more prominent performances.
Russell rose to prominence in 1998 when she was cast as Felicity Porter, the introspective college student at the center of the acclaimed WB series Felicity. Created by J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, the series ran for four seasons and earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 1999. During her time on the show, she expanded her film resume with roles in Eight Days a Week, Mad About Mambo, The Curve, and We Were Soldiers.
After Felicity ended in 2002, Russell transitioned to stage acting, making her off-Broadway debut in Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig in 2004. She continued working in television and film, starring in the Hallmark Hall of Fame TV film The Magic of Ordinary Days (2005), Steven Spielberg’s miniseries Into the West (2005), and the feature film The Upside of Anger (2005), opposite Joan Allen and Kevin Costner.
Russell experienced a career resurgence in 2013 when she took on the critically acclaimed role of Elizabeth Jennings, a deep-cover KGB spy living in 1980s America, in the FX series The Americans. The show, co-starring Matthew Rhys, received wide praise and earned Russell several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her compelling and intense performance.
In addition to her television success, Russell continued appearing in major films. In 2014, she starred in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes alongside Gary Oldman and Andy Serkis. In 2019, she joined the Star Wars franchise with a role in The Rise of Skywalker, playing the masked smuggler Zorii Bliss. Her inclusion in the blockbuster Disney series further confirmed her status as a versatile and bankable actress.
Russell was in a relationship with fellow Mickey Mouse Club alum Tony Lucca from 1991 to 1999. She later dated Joseph Lawrence briefly in 1994 and had a relationship with Scott Speedman from 1999 to 2001, whom she met on the set of Felicity.
In 2007, she married carpenter Shane Deary, whom she met through mutual friends. The couple had two children together before separating in 2013. Since then, Russell has been in a relationship with actor Matthew Rhys, her co-star from The Americans. The couple has one child together.
Over the decades, Keri Russell has garnered a reputation as a talented actress capable of handling both emotional drama and action-packed roles. Her performance in The Americans notably marked a high point in her career. Her estimated net worth is approximately $12 million, earned through her work in television, film, and endorsements.
| Birth Date: | 23 Mar, 1976 |
| Age: | 44 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Fountain Valley |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Net Worth 2021: | 12 million |
