I’m Ready For ‘The Americans’ To End

When The Americans premiered some five years ago, Keri Russell was an established presence across both small and big screens and it seemed like the perfect time for her to board an edgy, sexy FX drama. Who’d have thought that Russell and Matthew Rhys posing as two hot Cold War KGB agents undercover in America would be such a match made in heaven? (Evidently, Joe Weisberg did). The show (predictably) took off, raking in its fair share of awards love, critical acclaim, and buzz for stars Russell and Rhys. Since Russell began playing Elizabeth Jennings, though, her cinematic career has essentially been put on hold. This could be attributed to a variety of factors (including having a baby with Rhys), but her absence has certainly been felt. These past five years been a helluva ride, but like the star herself, I’m ready for The Americans to end – because the world needs more Keri Russell movies.

The Americans is a great series – and it’s ending at just the right time for all our cast members. It may not have been the buzziest show on television (outside of critics’ circles) these last few years; but it has been quietly, consistently compelling, stylishly going where few series dare to and creatively pushing its performers to their limits in the process. The show has essentially given Russell all the tools she needs to continue into this next phase of her career, whether that be action star, indie queen, or drama heavy-hitter. The Americans has been a nonstop reminder that she can do it all – and that she’s been doing it all for decades.

Felicity brought Russell into the spotlight back in the late 1990s and early aughts, but the few flicks that followed with Russell at the helm all proved she was a viable big-screen presence. Her collaboration with JJ Abrams evidently paid off when she appeared in a small role in Mission Impossible III, his feature directorial debut, and Russell proved she had the action chops to hold her own opposite Tom Cruise in just a few minutes of screen time. Her feature film career has been a bit of a roller coaster since, with middling dramas like August Rush and big-time blockbusters like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Perhaps the biggest testament to why we need more Keri Russell movies is Waitress, a perfect little 2007 rom-dramedy. Every time Russell’s face fills up the screen, something magical happens. There’s a rare humanity to her as an actress, one that is an obvious asset to playing roles like Jenna in Waitress, but comes surprisingly in handy when she’s filling the shoes of more morally ambiguous characters like Elizabeth on The Americans. She’s just too good to stay in one medium.

Because she’s largely jumped from television series to a handful of lower-profile movies, we’ve never quite gotten the Keri Russell film fix. Despite her inconsistent cinematic presence, she’s proven time and time again that she can carry even the most offbeat of projects on her back, pouring her heart into every role and demonstrating unique on-screen sensibilities. We can only hope that the free time heading her way with the conclusion of The Americans leads to more turns on the silver screen. I’d like to start seeing Keri Russell in theaters again – and I have a feeling I’m not the only one.