Golden Globe winner and four-time Emmy nomineeKeri Russellis one of television’s most acclaimed and long-lasting performers. In a career spanning over three decades, Rusell has starred in six TV shows, five of which as a headliner. For her work, Russell has won multiple accolades and received nominations for pretty much every major TV award, although the Emmy has somehow always eluded her.
The owner of one of the most iconic sets of hair in ’90s television, Russell’s legacy on the small screen is rich and varied.This list will rank every television show in Keri Russell’s career, from her early efforts in the ’90s to her most recent Netflix sensation. The ranking will be based on the show’s overall quality, its place in the actress' career and, of course, Russell’s performance, which has only gotten better over the years. Indeed, one look at her resumé is enough to cement her as one of modern TV’s most iconic performers.
6’Malibu Shores' (1996)
Created by Meg Richman
Russell’s first major television series as a protagonist was the 1996 teen dramaMalibu Shores. As the name implies, the show is set in Malibu and follows the relationships between two teenagers: working-class Zack (Tony Lucca) and wealthy and popular Chloe (Russell). When Zack transfers to Chloe’s upper-class high school following an earthquake, the class clash will complicate their romance.
Unfortunately,Malibu Shoreswas as uninspired as its title. The showoffers nothing new or remotely interestingto the classic formula of poor-boy-rich-girl besides a pair ofsolid performances from Lucca and Russell, who do their best with what little they have.The show only lasted one season, and it’s not hard to see why.Malibu Shoresis just another of the countless teen dramas about troubled romances. It has nothing noteworthy, and it’s best left behind in the summery beaches of ’90s Malibu.
Malibu Shores
5’Running Wilde' (2010-2011)
Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, and Will Arnett
Will Arnettis a very talented and hilarious performer. His work in shows likeArrested DevelopmentandBoJack Horsemanproves just how much of a comedic asset he is. However, his talents are utterly wasted in the simplistic sitcomRunning Wilde. Co-created by Arnett andArrested DevelopmentalumnMitch Hurwitz, the show centers on Steve Wilde (Arnett), a spoiled playboy desperately trying to win the love of his childhood sweetheart, Emmy (Russell).
Arnett and Russell have decent chemistry, especially in terms of playing off one another, but that comes from the fact they’re both talented performers and not from the show’s quality. In fact,Running Wildeisquite run-on-the-mill, offering nothing particularly funny or witty to an otherwise promising setup.The plot also struggles to remain focused and funny, meandering necessarily and focusing on far too many characters, none of which is remotely interesting or engaging. Overall,Running Wildeisa waste of Arnett and Russell’s talents, and it’s no wonder that it was canceled after one season.
Running Wilde
4’The All-New Mickey Mouse Club' (1991-1993)
Created by Walt Disney and Hal Adelquist
The All-New Mickey Mouse Clubwas the second revival of the 1955 original. The show featured a large cast of young performers, known as Mouseketeers, doing sketch comedy and performing covers of popular songs. Russell was a member of the cast from 1991 to 1993, showcasing her dancing abilities and showing her skills at acting from a young age.
ThisDisney Channel original is famous for featuring many A-listersbesides Russell. Indeed, now-iconic actors and singers likeRyan Gosling,Britney Spears, andChristina Aguilerawere also part of the show, giving it a certain degree of pedigree not many other children’s shows have. As a fun form of youth entertainment,The All-New Mickey Mouse Clubdid a solid job. However,its main contribution is launching the careers of so many future talents, including Russell, who would go on to star inMalibu Shoresonly three years after leaving behind her Mickey Mouse ears.
3’Felicity' (1998-2002)
Created by J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves
Russell’s ticket to fame and acclaim, not to mention TV immortality, came with her starring role in the ’90s sensationFelicity. The actress plays Felicity Porter, a shy high school graduate who moves to New York City to attend college. There, she will try things she never thought she would and meet new people, discovering herself for the first time in her sheltered life.
Felicityturned Russell into a TV icon. Her world-famous curly hair was as emblematic of late-’90s TV asJennifer Aniston’s Rachel haircut from 1995. In fact, whenRussell cut her hair in Season 2 ofFelicity, the outcry was such that the show’s ratings dropped significantly. Beyond the hair, though,Felicityisa near-perfect encapsulation of ’90s culture, a coming-of-age tale dipped in post-grunge and Y2K culture. At its center isRussell’s vibrant, engaging, and relatable performance, which earned her the 1999 Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama.Felicityis a seminal piece of ’90s television, largely thanks to the incisive writing and largely thanks to Russell’s outright iconic performance, which remains fresh almost thirty years later.
2’The Diplomat' (2023-Present)
Created by Debora Cahn
Russell’s most recent TV project is the Netflix political dramaThe Diplomat, which she also executive produces. The show revolves around Kate Wyler (Russell), a career diplomat who must juggle her new high-profile job as ambassador to the United Kingdom and her crumbling marriage to Hal Wayler (Rufus Sewell), the US ambassador to Lebanon.
Like other political shows,The Diplomatthrives ona soapy and outright addictive approachto major issues that are anything but entertaining in real life. However, the show is, first and foremost,a showcase for Russell. The actress is at her scrappiest and most engaging, crafting a fascinating character who never ceases to be entertaining. She is the star ofThe Diplomatin every sense of the word, not onlyelevating it but also keeping it endlessly compellingeven when the pace gets too slow and the realpolitik gets too overwhelming. Her verbal sparring with Sewell makes for excellent television, and the sharp dialog is convincing and biting enough to sell the political stakes.The Diplomatwill return for a third season, promising yet more worthwhile material for Russell to sink her teeth into.
The Diplomat
1’The Americans' (2013-2018)
Created by Joe Weisberg
The Americansis arguablythe best drama of the 2010s, which might be a controversial statement for many. However,the spy show is truly a work of the highest art, a biting and acerbic deconstruction of Americana that never ceases to be captivating. Russell and her real-life husbandMatthew Rhys(whom she met while shooting the show) star as Elizabeth and Phillip Jennings, two KGB spies posing as an American couple raising two children in a Virginia suburb at the height of the Cold War.
Elizabeth Jennings isthe role of Keri Russell’s career. Cold, calculating, and fiercely loyal to the Soviet Union, Elizabeth is a chameleonic and fascinating figure brought to life by a spectacular performer who had seldom shown such a hardened side to her persona. Elizabeth’s interactions with Phillip are the crux of the show, and Russell and Rhys have explosive chemistry together.The show thrives on tension and meticulous pacing, crafting a precise, slow-burn tale of loyalty and treason thatranks among the finest efforts in television history. For her work inThe Americans, Russell received widespread acclaim, including three consecutive Emmy nominations. It’s a crime that she never won for such a brilliant performance, but her lack of Emmy gold doesn’t diminish her achievement one bit.The Americansisa masterpiece of modern TV and Keri Russell’s finest hour—thus far, anyway.
NEXT:The 10 Best TV Dramas of the 2020s So Far, Ranked
