Keri Russell’s Best Performances, from ‘Felicity’ to ‘The Diplomat’

7. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (dir. J.J. Abrams, 2019)

The Mandalorian may have the most memorable helmet removal scene in the galaxy, but when Zorii Bliss lowered her visor to stare into the eyes of Poe Dameron during “The Rise of Skywalker,” you could feel the stars explode.

Combining the steely combat savvy from her days on “The Americans” with the romanticism of act one “Waitress,” Keri Russell joined the Lucasfilm universe as a criminal spicerunner rocking a red jumpsuit, gold helmet, and blaster pistols. As with so many of the random characters we meet on supporting Star Wars planets, Zorii’s unique perspective on the Jedi fight helped hasten the plot of the meandering (and, let’s be honest, middling) space epic toward its high-stakes conclusion.

But Russell’s reserved yet soulful performance as a woman abandoned by the man she loves felt intriguing enough to merit more screen time, if not a spinoff. Watching the resentment melt from Zorii’s eyes — and just her eyes — as she ponders a future with Poe remains one the better moments from the sequels, not to mention she’s got great lines (“So long, sky trash!”) and unbeatable chemistry with living legend Babu Frik. —AF

6. “Mission: Impossible III” (dir. J.J. Abrams, 2006)

Four years after “Felicity” ended, Russell reunited with creator J.J. Abrams for “Mission: Impossible III”: her first real role in a major blockbuster. She takes on the part of Lindsey Farris, an IMF agent in training and a pupil of franchise lead Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), who kick starts the plot when she’s taken hostage by Owen Davian (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). It’s a brief performance, as Russell only appears in the opening of the film. But she does a lot with that limited time and gets a chance to show off her action hero bonafides when finally busted free. In retrospect, it’s a tantalizing intro to the type of butt-kicking work Russell would do on “The Americans” years later. —WC

5. “Cocaine Bear” (dir. Elizabeth Banks, 2023)

Yes, yes, the bear (and the cocaine) is the star of Elizabeth Banks’ raucous ‘80s-era comedy, but it’s Russell who adds some seriously unexpected gravitas to an otherwise wild outing. In the film, Russell is cast as Sari: a hard-working mom who is already freaked out and pissed off enough when she discovers her rambunctious kiddo Dee Dee (Brooklynn Price) and her bestie have run off into the local Georgia forest, and then she meets the cocaine bear. On paper, it’s a straightforward enough role, but Russell brings her own gimlet-eyed humor to the part, approaching it as both the audience surrogate (what the hell is going on here?) and true mama bear (and how do I fix this?). It’s a tricky proposition: stay human in a crazy situation, be funny enough to hold attention, and survive the entire wild ordeal. She does it all, as ever. —KE

Read IndieWire’s review of “Cocaine Bear.” 

4. “The Diplomat” (Netflix, 2023-)

Russell’s latest is great news for fans of “The Americans.” Russell is once again playing a woman tied up in international issues while dealing with marriage problems at home — and it rules. Created by “Homeland” and “West Wing” vet Debora Cahn “The Diplomat” follows Kate Wyler (Russell): a woman great in war zones who has just been reassigned to be the US diplomat to the comparatively calm U.K. That’s challenging enough, but her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell) is an egomaniacal former ambassador who isn’t quite ready to walk away from the spotlight. The eight-episode first season is twisty, thrilling, and fun: a propulsive drama that feels very of the moment. Bring on Season 2! —ES 

Read IndieWire’s review of “The Diplomat.” 

3. “Felicity” (The WB, 1998-2002)

Russell shot to fame with “Felicity,” J.J. Abrams’ series about college life in the Big Apple. As the intelligent and sensitive title character, a California teen who impulsively decides to drop out of Stanford in favor of a New York school, the star is an immediately appealing lead, bringing a warmth and earnestness to the part that makes it hard not to root for her.

But what makes her performance really sing is the rawness and vulnerability Russell brings to Felicity: a young woman who doesn’t really know who she is but desperately wants to figure it out. Her open and curious performance fits the role perfectly, and gives Felicity’s self-exploration — which takes the form of school, friends, work, boys, and one very infamous haircut — some serious grounding. It’s one of teen television’s greatest performances, which makes it all the more impressive that Russell managed to exit that era so gracefully. —WC 

2. “Waitress” (dir. Adrienne Shelly, 2007)

In the cultural imagination, the late Adrienne Shelly’s “Waitress” has become somewhat overshadowed by the Tony-nominated musical it inspired. But the film itself is a bittersweet gem, and it features Russell in the absolute best film role of her entire career.

Russell plays Jenna Hunterson: a southern woman in an abusive marriage and a dead-end waitress job as she navigates an unexpected pregnancy and an affair with a new man. The film balances this heavy storyline with quirky comedy about Jenna’s coworkers, and it’s would be easy to imagine the balance being tipped too far in one direction if not for Russell. As Jenna, she’s plucky, down-to-earth, and understated, merging the film’s tones expertly. And she perfectly tracks Jenna’s journey into finding her inner strength and resolve, resulting in an uplifting conclusion that feels entirely earned. Plenty of actors played Jenna on Broadway to great effect, but Russell’s original performance is one that’s hard to top. —WC 

1. “The Americans” (FX, 2013-2018)

It’s the obvious choice, but it’s also the correct one. Simply put, Keri Russell’s work on “The Americans” isn’t just the best performance of the actor’s career, but it’s arguably one of the finest lead performances on TV this century. Set in the world of Russian and American espionage during the ’80s, Joe Weisberg’s acclaimed FX thriller was fronted by Russell as Elizabeth Jennings: a Soviet Union intelligence officer posing as a married American woman, keeping her activities a secret from everyone, including her kids, with the exception of her husband/fellow spy Phillip (Matthew Rhys).   

It’s a meaty role, and one Russell plays perfectly, balancing Elizabeth’s icy exterior with her more vulnerable, loving core. And in navigating their characters’ complex marriage, she and Rhys developed such scintellating, intense chemistry that it’s not surprising the two actors eventually got together in real life. Award bodies were unfortunately slow to catch on to the genius of “The Americans,” so Russell never received the Emmy she so clearly deserved, but her performance is one for the TV history books. —WC