Image via Netflix
Published Feb 1, 2026, 6:21 PM EST
Jessica is a young writer from Brisbane, Australia. An avid consumer and lover of all things Film and TV, you will never tear her away from a screen. A tendency rooted from childhood, she once had dreams of becoming a member of the famed kids-band 'Hi-5'. Perhaps that's what pushed her to secure an education with a theater background. But now, as dreams evolved, her passions have turned to admiring performances from afar. Frankly, she's just grateful that she can put her binging skills to good use. Outside of work, Jessica recently completed her undergraduate double degree in Arts/Communications at the University of Queensland. Other than that, she spends most of her free time with family and friends, probably never forgetting to talk about the new movie or show she watched the day prior.
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Few actors have built a career as quietly impressive — or as consistently excellent — as Keri Russell. From her early days on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club to her current run as a prestige television powerhouse, Russell has mastered the art of understatement, delivering performances that linger long after the credits roll.
Whether she's playing a conflicted spy, an overworked diplomat, or a woman yearning for something just out of reach, Russell brings intelligence, vulnerability, and lived-in authenticity to every role. So, it only feels right to celebrate the wide breadth of her work, from beloved classics to modern standouts that prove she's still operating at the very top of her game.
7 'The Magic of Ordinary Days' (2005)
Image via Empire Pictures.Set against the backdrop of World War II America, Livy Dunne (Russell) is a young woman sent away by her family after falling pregnant out of wedlock. She is soon forced into a marriage of convenience with Ray Singleton (Skeet Ulrich), a kind but quiet farmer, only for the two to slowly build a deep and loving bond.
Though a sweet television film, Russell showcases her talent for subtle, internalized character work. She captures Livy's initial guardedness and shame, all the while peeling back the layers of warmth and trust over time. Russell's chemistry with Ulrich is understated but deeply affecting, turning what could have been a conventional melodrama into a tender exploration of chosen family and emotional healing.
6 'August Rush' (2007)
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures.At 11 years old, musical prodigy Evan (Freddie Highmore) runs away from his orphanage to New York City, guided by the belief that music will lead him to his birth parents. Russell plays his mother, Lyla Novacek, a classically trained cellist whose rigid upbringing and strict career path are derailed by a brief but profound romance with a free-spirited musician. But when a tragic accident separates them, Lyla believes she's lost both her lover and their unborn child, unaware that Evan is searching for her too.
While August Rush leans heavily into its fairy-tale sentimentality, Russell grounds the film with sincerity and warmth. Rather than relying on the externalization of Lyla's grief, she internalizes it, allowing silence, the magic of the music, and fleeting expressions to carry the weight. It may not be her most complex role, but it highlights Russell's ability to communicate yearning and vulnerability with remarkable restraint.
5 'Austenland' (2013)
Image via Sony PicturesJane Hayes may be a single woman in her thirties, but that doesn't stop her from being a hopeless romantic, especially as her life has been taken over by her obsession with Pride and Prejudice (and Colin Firth's dashing Mr. Darcy). Fed up with her mundane reality and determined to finally live out her fantasies, Jane spends her life savings on an immersive Regency-era experience designed for the most dedicated Austen devotees.
Despite what critics may say, there's no doubt that Austenland is a fun and comforting romance — a film that's only elevated by Russell's refusal to mock Jane's earnestness. Instead, she plays her with warmth, intelligence, and just enough self-awareness to keep the comedy sharp rather than cruel. Indeed, Russell anchors the film's gleeful anachronisms and absurdity with genuine emotional stakes, ensuring Jane's eventual growth feels earned — not cynical. Here's to celebrating more silly, goofy movies.
4 'Felicity' (1998–2002)
Image via The WBFelicity Porter's (Russell) entire life may have been dictated by her parents, but all that changes when she graduates from high school. Deciding to impulsively drop out of her pre-med path, she decides to apply for college in New York after finding out her longtime crush, Ben Covington (Scott Speedmen), is heading that way.
In what was easily seen as her true breakout role, Russell charts Felicity's evolution with remarkable authenticity across all four seasons. A stellar coming-of-age tale, she allows the character to be messy, indecisive, and emotionally raw, capturing the uncertainty of young adulthood in a way that resonates deeply with audiences. In many ways, Felicity didn't just make Russell a star – it proved her ability to carry long-form emotional storytelling, laying the groundwork for the layered performances that would later define her career.
3 'Waitress' (2007)
Image Via Fox Searchlight PicturesIn America's South, Jenna is a talented pie-maker trapped in an abusive marriage and an unplanned pregnancy that she desperately wants to keep secret. Working at a small-town diner, Jenna channels her emotions into baking elaborate pies while quietly plotting a way out of her life — even as her choices become increasingly complicated amid her sudden affair with her gynecologist.
In Adrienne Shelly's beloved indie, Russell's performance stands as its emotional anchor. Bringing humor, gentleness, and an aching vulnerability to Jenna, Russell ensures the character never feels passive despite her circumstances. Indeed, she allows the audience to feel every flicker of hope and despair, making Jenna's desire for autonomy profoundly relatable. Waitress is arguably one of Russell's most human performances, even through all its whimsy.
2 'The Diplomat' (2023–Present)
Image via NetflixKate Wyler, a blunt, hyper-competent career diplomat, is unexpectedly appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom amid an escalating international crisis. Tasked with preventing global catastrophe while managing a volatile marriage and relentless political scrutiny, Kate operates in a near constant state of exhaustion (and defiance).
Portraying the diplomat with razor-sharp precision, Russell blends dry humor, irritation, and moral conviction into a performance that feels wholly lived-in. Never glamorizing the life of power, she showcases leadership as a grind — one fueled by intellectualism, instinct, and barely contained frustration. With each season raising the stakes, Russell continues to command the space of political dramas. Here's to more gripping seasons of The Diplomat, as we're still recovering from last season's finale.
1 'The Americans' (2013–2018)
Image via FXSet in 1980s America, during the height of the Cold War, Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Russell) are two Soviet KGB officers posing as a normal American married couple in suburban Washington, D.C. As they raise children unaware of their secret, the pair juggle dangerous espionage missions with their ever-evolving, complex, and intimate relationship.
Elizabeth Jennings is, without question, Russell's defining role. Her performance is ferocious, disciplined, and emotionally devastating, capturing the cost of devotion — to country, family, and self — with extraordinary depth. From her icy resolve to profound vulnerability, Russell makes Elizabeth both terrifying and heartbreakingly human. Frankly, it's one of the reasons why The Americans stands as one of the greatest spy thrillers of all time.
The Americans
Release Date 2013 - 2018
Showrunner Joe Weisberg
English (US) ·