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‘The Diplomat’ star Keri Russell reveals the ‘worst thing’ about being an actress

‘The Diplomat’ star Keri Russell reveals the ‘worst thing’ about being an actress

Keri Russell doesn’t love everything that comes with being a famous actress.

‘The Diplomat’ star revealed the ‘worst’ part of living in Hollywood after finding fame in the mid-1990s.

“I hate being watched,” Russell told Variety.

“Oh my God, it’s the worst. I had to do two photo shoots last week so I had to have a beer. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, they’re going to be watching me.’ It’s my nightmare.”

Russell rose to fame for her role in Felicity, which premiered in 1998.

The show ran for four seasons and ended in 2002.

Felicity co-creator JJ Abrams initially didn’t think Russell was right for the role.

“She walked into the room and it was almost ridiculous,” Abrams told Variety.

“Because the character I wrote was this wallflower who has never had a boyfriend and sheepishly walks up to a boy and asks him to sign her yearbook. It’s not Keri Russell, is it? I mean, Keri Russell comes in and she’s just so beautiful, you know, the hair, the smile, the eyes – you think that’s not someone who fits the job description.”

Keri Russell on the set of “The Diplomat.” ALEX BAILEY/NETFLIX

“But she was so sincere and so funny,” he continued.

“And whenever she got emotional, Matt and I would literally cry. It was like, “What the hell?” It was like the most remarkable demonstration of mirror neurons ever. And she got the part because she was so funny and honest.”

Russell is also known for her work in Mission: Impossible III and Waitress.

In 2013, Russell returned to television as Elizabeth Jennings on The Americans.

Russell attends the Jil Sander fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 on September 23, 2023. Getty Images

During her time on the TV show, Russell divorced Shane Dreary and eventually married her The Americans co-star Matthew Rhys.

“I was in love with Matthew,” she recalled to Variety.

“We were hot and heavy in there Loveshoot at the spy people at night in disguises and wigs. I mean, it was such a fun and sexy time. So funny, oh my god.”

While Russell considered herself a “nervous performer,” the actress felt comfortable on the set of “Felicity.”

Russell and Matthew Rhys in a scene from the final season of “The Americans.”

“One of the gifts of this show, and a little bit of The Diplomat, is that I got to wear these big, baggy sweaters and barely wear any makeup,” Russell noted.

“I would look at the girls who were the guest stars, so to speak – the beautiful girls who showed up and had to wear girls’ clothes? – and I can see how nervous that makes her. It’s hard to be beautiful; It’s a lot easier to just wear a big, baggy sweatshirt and sneakers.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I love the beauty of women too, and I like to dress up, and I like to wear makeup if I have to,” she explained.

“But there is so much more to being a girl. And I think some girls get stuck in that, you know? It was such a gift to just be able to wear big, baggy sweaters and just be funny or smart. So I was less nervous.”

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