Keri Russell, born Keri Lynn Russell on March 23, 1976, in Fountain Valley, California, is an American actress known for her versatile roles in television and film. She grew up in a family that moved frequently due to her father's job as a Nissan Motors executive, living in places like Coppell, Texas, Mesa, Arizona, and Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

She has an older brother and a younger sister, and her mother, Stephanie Stephens, was a housewife.

Her career began at the age of 15 when she joined the cast of "The All New Mickey Mouse Club" on the Disney Channel, where she performed alongside future stars like Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, JC Chasez, and Justin Timberlake.

Her first film appearance was in "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid" in 1992. She continued to work in television and film throughout the 1990s, appearing in shows like "Boy Meets World" and "Married... with Children."

In 1998, Keri Russell landed the title role in the WB Network series "Felicity," which followed the life of a young woman navigating college and relationships. Her performance in "Felicity" earned her a Golden Globe Award in 1999. After the show ended in 2002, she took a step back from Hollywood, seeking a quieter life away from the spotlight.

Keri Russell returned to acting with roles in films like "We Were Soldiers" (2002), "Waitress" (2007), and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" (2014). She also starred in the critically acclaimed FX series "The Americans" from 2013 to 2018, where she played Elizabeth Jennings, a Soviet spy living undercover in the United States.

Her performance in "The Americans" earned her several Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

In 2023, she took on the lead role in the Netflix series "The Diplomat," playing the U.S. ambassador in London. The show has been praised for its gripping storyline and Russell's compelling performance, earning her further Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

She is married to Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, whom she met on the set of "The Americans." The couple has three children, including a son born in 2016.