Keri Russell was fierce on screen in The Americans, but still tried to impress her 11-year-old son.

Keri Russell’s iconic role in the drama series Felicity won her the prestigious Golden Globe Award. But it was Joe Weisberg’s The Americans which solidified her status as a versatile actress. She played the role of Elizabeth Jennings, a Soviet KGB officer who’s been posing as an American. This role earned her several accolades and a solid fan following.

Keri Russell in The Americans || Credits: FX

But just like any other proud mother, all she wanted was her son’s approval. In a past interview, the actress detailed how her son reacted to her playing a badass character on screen.

Keri Russel Detailed Her Son’s Reaction to Her Role in The American

Keri Russell has had a very diverse career trajectory. From Broadway to movies and some of television’s most well-acclaimed shows, Russell has time and again showcased her versatility. She started her journey in showbiz at 15 when she was cast in the Mickey Mouse Club variety show on the Disney Channel.

But out of the lot, her portrayal of Elizabeth Jennings can easily be one of her most sought-after projects. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the actress talked about the show’s different elements and how her son reacted to her playing Jennings. This character was a lot different than what she played in the college drama Felicity.

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in The Americans || Credits: FX

In Felicity, her character was very likable but had a tough time standing up for herself. However, in The Americans, Elizabeth was fearless and not even afraid to confront her attacker in a full-blown fight. Along with Russell, her now-partner Matthew Rhys plays her husband in the show. He’s also a Soviet officer posing as an American.

Further, the duo also have their American-born children, Paige and Henry. Towards the end of the show, Russell recalled a poignant moment when Elizabeth has to leave her kids in America. On this, Russell added that people thought Jennings didn’t love her children, but according to the actress, “she fiercely loved them.”

This was the only moment her emotions were all over the place. On the topic of children, Keri Russell also added that while her character can kick anybody’s a** on screen, as a mother, all she wanted was to impress her 11-year-old (in 2018) son, River. She added:

I told him, ‘I did a fight scene all night. I was doing it in heels and I was really cool!’ He was like, ’Oh, oh well. (Further) He’s so not impressed with me. I’d have to join a professional soccer team or something to change his opinion.

While the actress might have failed to gain some words of praise from her son, The Americans gave her another shot at love after her divorce from ex-husband Shane Deary. Interestingly, the actress started dating her co-star Matthew Rhys in the same year, and now, almost a decade later, the couple are still going strong.

Matthew Rhys Speaks Fondly About His Relationship With Keri Russell

Keri Russell in The Americans || Credits: FX

Actors falling for each other on a movie set is not new in Tinseltown. And in the same manner, sparks flew when Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell fell in love during the filming of The Americans. In an interview with People, the actor added that romance with Russell was a “whirlwind.”

But the duo was quite careful with their relationship, even hiding it from the rest of the cast for over a year. However, the couple decided to come clean on their dating, as they just did not want to hide it anymore. Rhys added:

So when we told our producers like, ‘Oh, we do have something to say,’ they’re like, ‘Oh, don’t tell us you’re together.’ We’re like, ‘Actually, we’re going to have a baby.’ They were like, ‘Oh my God,’ because we’d kept it a secret for so long.

Interestingly, what started as an onset romance quickly escalated into the duo starting a family together. The couple have a 7-year-old son named Sam and have made it a point that at least one of them will stay with him while the other is at work.

You can stream The Americans on Hulu.