YM's Felicity Article

felicity's bustin'out

YM writes:
Admit it. You're hooked on Felicity, the hottest new show on TV, starring the amazing Keri Russell and her four supercool co-stars. To feed your addiction, we sat down with the sizzling cast to find out their most personal details and juicy behind-the-scenes stories.

FIRST THE STAR SPILLS...

It's hard to ignore 22-year-old Keri Russell's gorgeous corkscrew curls and piercing green eyes. But it's easy to get absorbed by her portrayal of Felicity Porter, the center of TV's most-talked about new show. Felicity is an instaheroine: She kicks off the show by following a spontaneous urge (for the first time in her life), which means ditching the college plans her parents made for her to follow her crush to a university clear across the country. Watching Felicity take responsibility for her rashness and make a new life for herself on a big, bustling campus in New York City is a crash course in growing up.
As Felicity, Keri has finally found her niche. Seven years ago, Keri, who grew up one of three children in decidedly low-key Mesa, AZ, and in Denver, scored a part on a variety show called The Mickey Mouse Club. Then followed six years of a mixture of hardly sensational TV work: one season on the failed prime time angst-soap Malibu Shores and a string of tele-flicks. Keri is very conscious of how Felicity's become her big breakout role. In fact, she's a little grateful to gutsy Felicity for teaching her how to be more honest and up front with others. But honesty can be risky, and we can't help but hope Felicity won't get hurt on the rocky path she's chosen for herself. But instead of cheering from afar, YM got up close and personal with the show's brightest star.
YM: What do you admire most about your character, Felicity?
KR: She's naively honest. I think that's such a great quality. She doesn't know that she shouldn't tell people how she feels all the time. In my life [since the show began], I'm constantly realizing I speak out when something bugs me, like she does. She's smart, too. So she figures, This is how I'm feeling, I'm going to tell them. I wish I had more of that.
YM: Do you ever have the urge to rebel against your parents like Felicity does?
KR: No. My parents have always been supportive of what I've done, so I haven't had the struggle that Felicity has. I think being an only child [like Felicity] comes with a lot of pressure. When you have more kids in your family, all eyes aren't on you every move you make. And I think that was Felicity's [reason for moving away].
YM: Is it weird going to college on the show when you've never had that experience yourself?
KR: No, not really. I mean, for me, college is being out of your comfort zone. I think that's ultimately what our show is about: coming to a new place and being able to reinvent yourself.
That happens to me constantly in real life- especially going from set to set. I just finished a movie in Ireland, and that was like college for me. I was across the ocean and the only American on set. [Every day was a challenge:] Deal or not deal, fit in or not fit in. I think that's as much college as we're trying to depict [on Felicity].
I think the show is really funny and smart. And it's responsible, too. I mean, especially since I'm a young girl, I don't choose parts that compromise my morals or make me say, "That's so stupid. Girls are smarter than that." The only drawback could be that [Felicity] followed this boy across the country. But the great thing is, in the first two episodes we dealt with the fact that she realizes what a big mistake that was, that going all the way across the country and dropping everything she had was maybe not the best choice she could have made.
YM: In what way does Felicity get to you?
KR: Most teenage girls feel as if they have to impress everybody. I even find that in myself. You just want to make sure everyone's okay. And that's not always okay. You have to gain a sense of self-worth and be independent. And I think boys do that much more easily than girls do.
YM: Do you catch yourself feeling extra responsibility because you're the star of the show?
KR: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. These last few months have been overwhelming. Even photo shoots tend to feel like a responsibility of mine. Like, I want to make sure that everyone's happy. And when someone's having a problem with his or her hair, I feel like it's my responsibility to go and say, "So-and-so doesn't like her hair. Can you help her?" I feel if I don't say it, no one will.
YM: So what do you need in your dressing room to keep you calm?
KR: Candles and pictures. I take a lot of black-and-white pictures, and I've been using a lot of photos I have in my dressing room on the set- in [Felicity's] room. Pictures of my goddaughter and people I love.
YM: Do you have a boyfriend?
KR: I do. He's my best friend.
YM: What does he think about your huge success?
KR: He thinks it's great. I mean, the cool thing is [this show] has been the first thing that I've really enjoyed working on and been proud of. And he and the rest of my friends just, they love it too.
YM: One more question: In the shows you've taped sp far, have Felicity and Ben kissed?
KR: Oh, no. The show would be over once that happens!

Felicity's Fab 5

Check out our by-the-numbers guide to the coolest crowd on TV as they dish on- and off screen dirt.

1 cast member has a cringeworthy kissing story to tell
Amy Jo Johnson:
It was with this actor in a TV movie called Perfect Body. Right after I kissed him, I got so nervous that-this is so silly-I told him he smelled like kitty pee. He didn't! It just came out of my mouth!

1 would date a co-star-maybe
Tangi Miller:
You hear about people falling in love on sets. My rule is, if you like someone, wait until six months after [a kissing] scene to [date].

just 1 was a Power Ranger
Amy Jo:
I played the Pink Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

2 would date Felicity
Scott Foley:
She's definitely cute. Felicity might drive me nuts occasionally, but that's probably why I'd be so taken with her.
Scott Speedman: I don't know any girls like Felicity, but if I did, yeah, for sure.

2 were loners in high school
Keri Russell:
I was a dancer, and that's all I used to do. People couldn't understand why I would miss prom to rehearse.
Amy Jo: I was a bit of an outcast. But I was a gymnast, which was my saving grace. It helped me be, like, normal.

...3 weren't
Scott S.:
I was introverted, but sometimes I could also be class clown.
Tangi: I was in drama and president of my class. I even twirled baton.
Scott F.: I went to three different high schools, and I was a troublemaker in each. I had a real problem with authority.

3 are single and searchin'
Scott F.:
I want a girl who can look at me in the eyes and can be honest, laugh at my stupid jokes, and put up with me.
Scott S.: I'm looking for someone natural and simple. Not a lot of makeup. Just easygoing, funny, and aggressive. I'm picky. It's been a while since I dated someone.
Amy Jo: I'll wait for my knight. I'm not giving up.

3 had unforgettable first kisses
Amy Jo:
I was 16. My first boyfriend and I were in his basement watching a movie. The kiss was wonderful. I felt like electricity was running through my whole body. He called me a couple of days ago. He's married and has kids now.
Keri: My first kiss that counts was with a boy who had never kissed anyone before. It was good because we were both bad. I still see him. He's so cute that I'm always like, That was a good choice.
Tangi: I kissed a guy named Leonard the summer before ninth grade. Our teeth knocked together. I was kissing with my mouth closed, because that's what it looks like on TV. He was like, "You have to open your mouth". It was nasty at first, but I got used to it after a while.

4 are like their characters
Scott S.:
Ben's like I was when I was 19. [Scott is now 22 years old now.] He's trying to figure out who he is an d making mistakes.
Keri: I'm definitely like as hypersensitive as Felicity. I just don't always show it.
Scott F.: Noel and I are geeks. We both get nervous around women.
Tangi: My boyfriend says I'm starting to act like Elena. But I'm not as together as she is. I wish I were, though.
Amy Jo: Julie is very reserved and protective of herself, but I wear my heart on my sleeve, more like Felicity.

all 5 are friends
Amy Jo:
Keri and I get giggle fits on the set. Her boyfriend is a singer and guitar player, and we go see him play. I'm in a band, too, and the cast comes to watch my shows.
Scott F.: We give each other a hard time. And we support each other when things aren't going well.

all 5 are fly
Can't you tell?

By Julie Trelling


reality report card
New York University students sound off whether the show makes the grade
dorm rooms C "Dorms are much smaller. Hers would house at least three people!" -Shannon, 20
RA's B "RA's are friendly, but none would stop by with a map like Noel did." -Katie, 19
classes B "Profs aren't all soEinstein-looking and classes aren't so small." -Meghan, 19
social life D "You meet tons of new people at school, but Felicity only met one!" -Maureen, 20

-Patty Adams

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