Keri Russell is known for her roles in Felicity, Diplomat and Cocaine bearbut to her children – Rivera, Willa and Sam – she is just “mom”.
The actress shares her two older children with ex-husband Shane Deary, and her younger son Sam with partner Matthew Rhys.
River was born in 2007, a few months after her parents married, and Willa arrived in 2012. The following year, Russell and Deary split, and in 2014, the actress confirmed that she was dating The Americans costar Rhys. Russell gave birth to her and Rhys’ son Sam in 2016.
The August crowd The cast member loves discovering her children’s personalities and has learned to adapt her parenting style to suit them.
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys Relationship Timeline
“I think it’s just different [based on] child. You never know,” she told PEOPLE in 2017. “You get what you get, and everyone is so different and wild and weird and good in their own way.”
One goal she keeps consistent for all her children is fostering a respectful community around them. “Don’t be a jerk,” Russell said. “As they get older, [the lessons are] be a good friend, be a loyal friend and don’t talk about your friend.”
The actress also tries to bring grace to her parenting, especially during challenging times. “You do your best every day, and some days are bad,” she added. “I feel like people need to remember that more.”
Here’s everything you need to know about Keri Russell’s kids: River, Willa and Sam.
Rijeka, 16
Keri Russell during the 6th Annual Tribeca Film Festival.
Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic
Russell welcomed her first child, River, with her then-husband, Deary, on June 9, 2007.
The actress later revealed that she gave birth for 38 hours straight. “It was intense,” she told PEOPLE in 2007. “It was a long time. But everything worked out as it should.”
Russell knew she would never be the same since River’s second birth. “You immediately become less selfish,” she said Parade 2013. “You can’t be the greatest person in the world anymore – they are. It really grounds you.”
Despite her busy work schedule, Russell made sure to be a present parent to her son.
“I have to work really hard for three months, but then I have to be at home for four months where I put him to bed every night,” she told PEOPLE in 2012. “I like to be in the grown-up world for a little bit and then come into the mom world and cook dinners. And for me, that balance is what makes it beautiful.”
As for making dinner for her family, she said Form 2020. that she “cooked a lot more than when [she] only had one child.” But even after River’s brother and sister appeared in the film, Russell still cooked the occasional big family meal.
“I usually do roast chicken and vegetables and maybe a guilty pleasure like Yorkshire pudding,” she said.
Willa Lou, 11
Keri Russell and Shane Deary at the 80th Academy Awards on February 24, 2008 in Hollywood, California.
ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy
Russell and Deary welcomed their daughter, Willa, on December 27, 2012, in New York City. “Everyone is happy and healthy,” her rep confirmed to PEOPLE at the time.
In 2023, the actress shared a glimpse of her hilarious mother-daughter relationship with Will when she appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“My daughter about a year ago — she’s kind of mature for her age and one day she was bored — I said, ‘Hey, Willa, I did this show about this college girl and you might think it’s great. It’s really cute,'” Russell recalled showing Willa her show Felicity first time.
She continued: “After about 15 minutes, she turned it off and said, ‘Ugh, mom, it’s so creepy.’ … Why do you think I’d want to watch your college experience kissing weird guys and stuff?’ ”
When Diplomat star started dating Rhys, he became a stepfather to Rivera and Willa and had to quickly learn how to be a parent. 2023, he said Vogue about how he measures a good day with children.
“If all three of you were fed, if you ate vegetables, if someone asked me about dinner, bathing, Harry PotterThey were reading, they were in bed, and all three didn’t cry, that’s a huge success,” he said.
Sam, 7
Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell at the Metropolitan Opera House Opening Gala Premiere of ‘Tristan and Isolde’ on September 26, 2016 in New York City.
Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan/Getty
The Americans Costars Russell and Rhys began dating in 2014 and welcomed their son Sam in May 2016.
Russell revealed the gender and name of her third child two months after he was born Today show. “We had a boy,” she said. “[His name is] Himself. He is so good. It’s big, fat and nice.”
Russell added that Rhys is “doing so well” about becoming a dad for the first time. Fortunately, the actor had his partner’s experience and a “soothing hand” that helped him along the way.
Rhys also quickly started changing nappies and proudly shared further Living with Kelly and Ryan 2017 that Russell’s older children “claimed [Sam] as your own” immediately.
Having grown up in Wales, Rhys said it was important to share his culture with his son – something he does in his mother tongue.
“I only speak to him in Welsh and he understands everything I say,” said Rhys Deadline in 2021. “He will always answer me in English. Sometimes he’ll pepper in a word in Welsh, I think just to please me. But his father’s language is very clear to him, and there is also his mother’s language.”
Rhys and Russell even took Sam to Wales for two weeks in 2017 to give him the chance to meet his extended family in Cardiff, according to an interview with Irish news.
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