Keri Russell lucky to have gotten ‘out alive’ after being a Disney Mouseketeer
Keri Russell expressed her gratitude for escaping unscathed after being selected for Disney’s highly sought-after Mouseketeers program. When asked by W magazine if she managed to hold onto anything from her time on the “All-New Mickey Mouse Club,” the former “Americans” star replied, “My sanity, my dignity. Not everyone made it out alive.” Despite her serious answer, the 47-year-old actress confessed that she believed herself to be the least talented member of the program, considering the likes of Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and others were part of the same group. She also mentioned that she formed close friendships with Ilana Miller and Lindsey Alley during her time on the show. Russell referred to her experience on the “All-New Mickey Mouse Club” in the ’90s as a stroke of luck for her survival. She cherished her sanity and dignity as the only things she managed to preserve from her involvement in the variety series. The “Felicity” star’s stint on the show lasted from 1991 to 1994. She expressed her astonishment at being chosen among talented individuals such as Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, and Britney Spears, describing it as a wild experience. Russell joined the “All-New Mickey Mouse Club” at the age of 15 and remained a part of the series until she was 18. In October 2021, she exclusively revealed to TheFantasyTimes that she hoped Britney Spears, who was only 11 when she joined the program, was leading a happy life amidst her ongoing battle to break free from her father’s 13-year conservatorship. At a screening of her film “Antlers,” Russell expressed her wish for Spears’ well-being, acknowledging that nobody truly knows the reality of her life. She reiterated her belief that the other castmates on the show were incredibly talented during an appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” She fondly recalled her time with Christina, Britney, Ryan, and Justin, noting their young ages compared to her own and praising their exceptional abilities.
Keri Russell said she’s “lucky” to have gotten “out alive” after being chosen for Disney’s coveted Mouseketeers program.
When asked by W magazine if she “saved” anything from her time on the “All-New Mickey Mouse Club,” the “Americans” alum responded, “My sanity, my dignity. Not everyone got out alive.”
Despite her serious response, Russell, 47, admitted that she was the “least talented” performer in the program, having been in the same company as Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling and more.
“Some of those people are still my best friends — Ilana [Miller] and Lindsey [Alley]. I was there at a time when there were a lot of famous kids there,” she explained.
“And I say this completely truthfully: I was literally the least talented one there. I’m not kidding. When I look at those kids, I’m like, why in the world did they pick me?
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“Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling and Britney Spears. It was wild.”
The “Diplomat” star joined the “All-New Mickey Mouse Club” when she was 15 years old and appeared in the series from 1991 to 1994.
In October 2021, Russell told TheFantasyTimes exclusively that she hoped Spears, who was just 11 when she joined the variety show, was “happy” amid her then-active battle to free herself from a 13-year conservatorship helmed by her father, Jamie Spears.
“I just hope she’s happy, whatever that means,” she said at a screening for her film “Antlers.”
“I don’t know if any of us really know how her life really is,” Russell continued, “but I just hope she’s happy.”
The “Felicity” star previously praised her fellow castmates while visiting “The Kelly Clarkson Show” earlier this year.
“They were all very talented. Like, Christina and Britney and Ryan Gosling and Justin, all those kids were 12 when I was 17. So I was a little older,” Russell recalled at the time.
“I mean, I could drive. I was cool. But they were wildly talented.”
