KeriRussellWeb

It’s time to get past the haircut. Keri Russell certainly has.

In fact, the former “Felicity” star has moved so far beyond her famous pixie cut that she’s now realizing that there’s something else out there — namely, aliens. That’s right, Russell’s latest project is the sci-fi/horror film “Dark Skies.” She plays a mother under siege from all angles: financial, familial and supernatural. When strange things start happening, such as her youngest son claiming visits from “the sandman,” unexplained items moving inexplicably throughout the house and scary episodes she can’t remember, Russell’s character takes matters into her own hands, to thrilling result.

NextMovie sat down with Russell in New York City ahead of the movie to discuss her thoughts on aliens, the time she almost drowned while hanging out with Anthony Kiedis and, yes, the haircut. Continue reading Questions and Answers With Keri Russell

Keri Russell has had quite a varied career already, performing in things from the teen angsty Felicity to the short-lived sitcom Running Wilde to now getting to do the action thing with FX’s The Americans. She even voiced Wonder Woman in a direct-to-DVD animated adventure a few years ago; lots of genres, but never once sci-fi/horror, until now. Russell stars in the new film Dark Skies, about a suburban family targeted by malevolent forces from another world. She spoke to us about what drew her to the film, what it was like to work with the film’s younger cast members, and the freedom inherent with doing low-budget films. Continue reading Interview with “Dark Skies” Star Keri Russell

Though she’s not a big fan of the genre, Keri Russell knew she wanted a role in the spooky psychological thriller “Dark Skies.”

“I don’t watch scary movies, but it was one of those scripts I read — a little family and very ‘Poltergeist’-y — and instantly liked.

“I believed it and thought it would be fun to go see.”

Though “Dark Skies” tells the story of an other­worldly menace targeting the suburban Barretts, particularly its two young sons, Russell sees it as a family drama.

“This family is falling apart. A husband (Josh Hamilton) has lost his job; they don’t know if they’ll lose the house.

“They’re worried about money, they’re worried about divorce. They’re worried how that might affect their preteen, who is coming into sexuality, meeting friends, those kind of forces they’re not going to be able to control.

“They have all these very real family problems going on and then this outside stuff starts entering. To me that’s a metaphor for this family trying to stay together and keep control — and it’s impossible.

“The world just happens. It’s just Mom trying to be Momma Bear and protect and keep this family together.”

Russell, 36, a married mother of 5-year-old River and 15-month-old Willa, understood Momma Bear Lacy’s denial.

“No one wants to believe it. In fact there are so many signs, she thinks, ‘This is going on.’ But she says, ‘This can’t be happening. This is crazy stuff’ — and yet.

“At the end, it’s so based in the reality of protecting kids she gets really nutty crazy. As we filmed, I was thinking of what some of those parents must have felt like when Katrina was coming.

“This unmanageable thing is headed your way, you’d do anything to protect your kids, you’re totally responsible for them, but you don’t know if you’re going to be able to.

“It’s so heartbreaking and terrifying. I thought about that a lot.”

What’s more terrifying for Russell, facing possible aliens or smashing her nice-girl “Felicity” image with her new TV series “The Americans,” playing a ruthless undercover KGB agent?

“That’s cool. That’s one of the good things about taking little breaks now and then. People forget about you a little bit and you can come back and do something a little fresh.”

(“Dark Skies” opens Friday.)

Source: http://bostonherald.com/