Keri Russell

Actress Keri Russell seemingly materialized from nowhere to star in the popular angst-filled teen drama "Felicity" (The WB, 1998-2002), but she had actually been a teen entertainer on stage and at Disney's star-making Orlando studios for years. Audiences loved her as the intelligent but naïve Felicity Porter, a sheltered suburban girl who moves to New York to attend college and is exposed to the coarser side of life, thanks to her new big city friends. When the show ended after four seasons, television audiences lost sight of the actress who kept a low profile while strategizing on how to segue into broader adult roles. Russell's eventual follow-up projects included a small but pivotal role in J.J. Abrams' deft "Mission: Impossible III" (2006) and a co-starring role the Adam Sandler family fantasy "Bedtime Stories"(2008), but she focused mainly on meatier independent features like the acclaimed "Waitress" (2007), completing a successful transition from small screen teen fame to respected film actress. Though she found some success in features, Russell had her meatier roles on television, particularly on the Cold War espionage drama "The Americans" (FX, 2013- ), which marked a triumphant return to the small screen while underscoring her talent for playing diverse roles.