In an eye-opening interview with 'Variety', Keri Russell gets candid about the not-so-dazzling aspects of fame. Known for her breakout role in "Felicity" and her captivating performances in 'Mission: Impossible III' and 'Waitress,' Russell has been a familiar face in Hollywood since the mid-90s. But it's not all red carpets and champagne – for Russell, the spotlight has a dark side.
- Keri Russell is very famous
- But it's not always nice
- THESE are her thoughts on a high profile
The Price of Fame
"I hate being watched," Russell confesses, sharing her discomfort with the constant attention. Photo shoots, a staple of celebrity life, become a daunting task. "I had to drink a beer... I’m like, ‘Oh my God, they’re gonna be watching me.’ It’s my nightmare." This raw honesty sheds light on the pressure and anxiety that can accompany fame.
But there are upsides, of course...
"A gift about that show, and a little bit ‘The Diplomat’ too, is I got to wear these big baggy sweaters, and I hardly wore any makeup," Russell noted.
"I would watch the girls who were, like, the guest stars – the beautiful girls who would come on and have to wear girl clothes? – and I see how nervous that makes them. It’s hard to be beautiful; it’s much easier just to be in a big baggy sweatshirt and sneakers."
"Don’t get me wrong, I love the beauty of women, too, and I like dressing up, and I like, you know, wearing makeup when I need to," she explained. "But there’s so much more to being a girl than that. And I think some girls get stuck in that, you know? It was such a gift to just get to wear big baggy sweaters and just get to be funny or smart. So I was less nervous," she explains.
Despite initial doubts from 'Felicity' co-creator J.J. Abrams about her fitting the role, Russell's undeniable charm and authenticity won him over. "She was so genuine and so funny," Abrams recalls, highlighting her ability to connect and evoke emotion, a trait that has defined her career.
"She walked into the room, and it was almost ridiculous," Abrams told 'Variety'. "Because the character that I wrote was this wallflower who had never had a boyfriend, who sheepishly approaches a boy to ask to sign her yearbook. It’s not Keri Russell, right? I mean, Keri Russell walks in and she’s just this beautiful, you know, the hair, the smile, the eyes – you’re like, this is not someone that fits the job description."
"And whenever she would get emotional, literally, Matt and I would cry. It was like, ‘What the h---?’ It was like the most remarkable demonstration of mirror neurons ever. And she got the part because she was so funny and she was so truthful."
Love and Life on Set
Russell's personal life has also been a rollercoaster, with her marriage to 'The Americans' co-star Matthew Rhys blossoming amidst their on-screen spy drama.
During her time on the TV show, Russell got divorced from Shane Dreary and eventually married her 'The Americans' co-star Matthew Rhys.
"I was in love with Matthew," she recalled to Variety. "We were, like, hot and heavy in love, shooting the spy stuff at night in disguises and wigs. I mean, it was such a fun, sexy time. So fun, oh my gosh," she reminisces about their steamy, wig-filled nights on set.
This off-screen romance added a layer of intrigue to their already compelling performances.
Despite the industry's emphasis on beauty, Russell found solace in roles that allowed her to step away from the glamour. "It’s hard to be beautiful; it’s much easier just to be in a big baggy sweatshirt and sneakers," she states, advocating for a more relaxed and genuine portrayal of women on screen. This perspective offers a refreshing take on the often unrealistic standards set by Hollywood.
Also interesting:
Her relationship status today
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She also sings!
Keri Russell's journey through the highs and lows of fame provides a candid look at the realities behind the glitz of Hollywood. Her story is a reminder of the strength and authenticity required to navigate the entertainment industry, proving there's much more to being a star than meets the eye.
