Superheroes, spies, and detectives are great, but there’s something magical about messy, boy-crazy, and fiercely ambitious college students. A few months ago, my family and I started watching Felicity (yes, 22-episode seasons make for slow progress), and I’ve been thrilled with how my tween daughters are responding. They’re all in on the Ben vs. Noel drama, but they’re also captivated by Felicity’s tug-of-war between her dream of being an artist and her pragmatic pursuit of a medical degree. Inspired, they’ve created their own two-track plans: one for lofty, creative ambitions and another for practical back-ups.
Those are goals I can cheer for. But is that why Keri Russell is my For Your Consideration pick to kick off this year’s Pajiba 10? Absolutely not. It’s because she’s drop-dead gorgeous, somehow hasn’t aged in 25 years, has legs for days, and radiates the kind of effortless cool that renders middle-aged dudes powerless. She’s exactly the type of woman who’d call out the double standard of being kicked out of the Mickey Mouse Club for having sex, while the boys she hooked up with kept their spots — and she probably drank most guys under the table while she was at it. There’s a reason she married her wine-loving Welsh co-star from The Americans.
Russell’s interviews are always impressive—sharp, self-assured, and dripping with a laid-back confidence. She has no interest in playing the Hollywood game. Instead of taking garbage roles, she takes time off, resulting in a career full of TV gold (Felicity, The Americans, The Diplomat), interesting movie choices (Cocaine Bear, Waitress) and resume gaps she couldn’t care less about explaining. She’s also the kind of mom who drinks, curses, and still hangs with her college friends.
And yet, despite being relevant for nearly this site’s entire 20-year history, she’s never made the Pajiba 10. Let’s fix that. Voting starts next week. Do the right thing: vote Keri Russell.
