Keri Russell Discusses Beauty Standards in New Role

LOS ANGELES, CA — Keri Russell opened up about beauty standards in a recent interview with PEOPLE while promoting her role as a U.S. Ambassador in the Netflix series, The Diplomat.

In a discussion about her character, Russell shared her feelings on societal beauty expectations. “I’m totally empathetic,” said the 49-year-old actress, known for her striking looks since her breakout role in 1998. “Everyone has an opinion about the way you look, the way you dress, the way your hair is.”

Russell noted how portraying a character who faces scrutiny over her looks adds an interesting dynamic to her performance. “I like how cranky she is about it, and how she’s always trying to fight people about it,” she explained. “I find it delightful.”

The topic of beauty standards resonates with Russell in her personal life as well. She said discussions about plastic surgery are common among her friends. “Plastic surgery is having such a moment right now — men, women, 20-year-olds,” she revealed. “Even though they might be 50 or 60 years old, they look amazing.”

Russell expressed mixed feelings about her own appearance in relation to those she sees on-screen. “I watch this show and I’m like, I do not look like that, you know,” she said. “I like the way I look on the show, and it’s amazing that I feel like that’s strange, like that’s a unique thing to look like that, but it is.”

Fans can catch the latest episodes of The Diplomat, now streaming on Netflix. The show continues to spark conversations about beauty and identity in modern society.