The Diplomat star Keri Russell's life from early struggle with fame to famous partner

The Diplomat season two official trailer

The Diplomat season two has finally landed on Netflix, leaving fans eager to learn more about the life of its star, Keri Russell.

It's been over a year since the gripping political drama last aired, and season two picks up right where it left off, with the aftermath of the dramatic season one finale that left Hal Wyler's (Rufus Sewell) fate uncertain.

With all six episodes now available to stream as of Friday, November 1, here's a deep dive into Keri Russell's life.

Early beginnings

Born in March 1976 in California, Russell is the middle child of three siblings to parents Stephanie Stephens and David Russell, a Nissan Motors executive.

The actress's career began with a role in the 1992 family film Honey, I Blew Up The Kid, where she played babysitter Mandy Park.

This was followed by appearances in Emerald Cove, Daddy's Girls, Married With Children, Malibu Shores, Roar, and 7th Heaven, as well as a feature in Bon Jovi's 1994 music video for their hit song Always.

Inside The Diplomat star Keri Russells life from family movie debut to famous partner and anxiety (Image: NETFLIX)

Actress Keri Russell played Mandy Park in the 1992 family movie Honey, I Blew Up The Kid. (Image: WALT DISNEY PICTURES) Mental health struggles

However, it was her starring role as Felicity Porter in the WB drama Felicity that catapulted Russell to fame.

The show ran for four years, earning numerous awards, but Russell initially struggled with the pressures of fame.

In fact, she took a two-year break from acting to focus on living a "normal life".

Keri Russell opened up to Harper's Bazaar about handling fame in the pre-social media era, admitting: "I honestly do not know how you guys all do it, because I'm a nervous, anxious person anyway.

"I remember what it was like moving to New York when I was young and having photographers wait on certain blocks in the West Village where I was living. You feel hunted.

"I was affected by my tiny version of that, and it made me really retreat and not want to be in crowds and not want to go to really fun things.

"Luckily, I think what saved me was, after Felicity, I had worked so hard for those years in my 20s that I didn't really want to act anymore.

"I took a big long break for almost two years, maybe a year and a half, and I just lived in New York and saw my girlfriends.

"I think that helped me survive that transition, and it helped me stay in the business, actually, because I don't think I would still be here if I burned myself out at that age."

The Diplomat star Keri Russell and her partner actor Matthew Rhys. (Image: GETTY) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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Love Life

Discussing her personal life, Russell was previously married to Shane Deary, whom she met in 2006 and tied the knot with a year later. The couple had two children, River and Willa, but went their separate ways in 2013.

The Diplomat actress is now happily married to Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, her co-star from the critically acclaimed spy drama The Americans, where they portrayed Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings, a pair of KGB spies masquerading as an American married couple.

Their paths first crossed in 2002, but romance blossomed while working together on The Americans, leading to the birth of their son Sam in 2016.

In addition to The Americans, Rhys has starred in Perry Marson, The Edge Of Love and Brothers And Sisters, among others.

Despite being together for a decade and living in Brooklyn, the couple have not yet revealed any plans to tie the knot.

The Diplomat is available to watch on Netflix.

The Diplomat star Keri Russell's life from early struggle with fame to famous partner

The Diplomat star Keri Russell's life from early struggle with fame to famous partner

The Diplomat star Keri Russell's life from early struggle with fame to famous partner

The Diplomat star Keri Russell's life from early struggle with fame to famous partner

The Diplomat star Keri Russell's life from early struggle with fame to famous partner