Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling and Christina Aguilera also starred on the Disney show
Success and scandal have been synonymous with the talent produced inside the Mickey Mouse Club back in the ’90s. Just look at former members Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
But Keri Russell, who managed to evade some of the unfortunate child-star narratives that others succumbed to, is shedding light on a scandalous story of her own: why she was potentially kicked off the show.
Stopping by Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s podcast, “Dinner’s on Me,” Russell suggested that maturing was likely what got certain cast members, including herself, removed from the show. Ferguson prompted Russell’s startling admission, asking whether there was an age cut-off for being on the show.
Keri Russell (fourth from the right) poses with her “All New Mickey Mouse Club” castmates, including NSYNC member J.C. Chasez (left). (Buena Vista Television/ Courtesy: Everett Collection)
“Yeah, it’s usually girls who look like they were sexually active, which probably I was one of the first,” she admitted. “They’re like, “She’s out! She is out! That one is gone!” she joked.
“Meanwhile, the boys stayed ’till they were like 19,” Russell lamented. “I was like, ‘Um, by the way, I had sex with that person. I know that they’ve had sex.'”
“Pregnant musketeers aren’t on the roster,” she stated. “So I left at probably 17-ish.”
Keri Russell, not pictured, worked with Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears (all pictured) on her last season of “The All New Mickey Mouse Club.” (Buena Vista Television/ Courtesy: Everett Collection)
Russell also explained how she landed the role on “The All New Mickey Mouse Club,” having attended a Denver casting call with some friends.
“I think back then Disney was looking for kids that were kind of, like, normal,” she told Ferguson. In a candid interview with W Magazine last year, Russell claimed she was “the least talented” of the cast.
Keri Russell appeared on “The All New Mickey Mouse Club” for three seasons. (CBS via Getty Images)
“I was there at a time when there were a lot of famous kids there,” she told the outlet. “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? Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling and Britney Spears. It was wild.”
Former Mickey Mouse musketeers Keri Russell, JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake pose for a photo together at the 2000 Teen Choice Awards, with fellow NSYNC member Chris Kirkpatrick. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
Speaking of how her career trajectory deviated from other big names, Russell told Ferguson, “I think what’s really the creepiest part of kid acting is usually it’s one or two kids with all adults. And so that really accelerates the adultification of everything. And for the ‘Mickey Mouse Club,’ there were 19 of us. The adults were invisible to me. You know what I mean?”
Keri Russell, now 48, says she was probably kicked off the Disney Channel show because she looked “sexually active.” (Araya Doheny/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
All of the kids appearing on the show did have to have a parent with them, according to Russell. “I was 15 to 17. So I think that is what was unique about being a kid actor at such a young age. So I wasn’t completely alone with all the adults. And I think that was helpful.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Disney and representatives for Russell for comment.
News
Justin Timberlake’s *NSYNC bandmate Chris Kirkpatrick teases reunion saying ‘it feels right’ when the five are together (HF)
Justin Timberlake’s *NSYNC bandmate Chris Kirkpatrick teases reunion saying ‘it feels right’ when the five are together Founding member of legendary boy band details future hopes CHRIS Kirkpatrick feels it every time *NSYNC is in the same room together –…
Jessica Biel stands firmly by Justin Timberlake in the “eye of the storm” when her husband drives drunk
Jessica Biel did not flinch in the face of turbulence, she remained determined to stand by Justin Timberlake through difficult times. After Justin Timberlake was arrested for drunk driving, his marriage with Jessica Biel once again became the focus of…
“At 37, with everything he’s accomplished,” Tatiana Golovin feels crowd not respecting Novak Djokovic is affecting him ‘much more than before’
Golovin feels Djokovic, with everything he has achieved, has a right to complain if he is not getting the love and respect he deserves. Novak Djokovic (Image via Imago) Novak Djokovic was angry at the Wimbledon crowd for their constant ‘boos’…
Jessica Biel throws herself into character as she films The Better Sister with Elizabeth Banks in NYC – weeks after husband Justin Timberlake’s DWI arrest
Jessica Biel threw herself into character as she continued filming the Amazon Prime Video series The Better Sister in New York City on Thursday. The actress, 42 – whose husband Justin Timberlake was recently arrested for DWI – was spotted on the set with co-star Elizabeth…
Travis Kelce dedicates karaoke win to Taylor Swift as fans go wild for his cringeworthy performance of iconic rock song (HF)
Travis Kelce produced a performance Taylor Swift would have been proud of to prevail in a Lake Tahoe karaoke competition on Thursday night. And after being crowned the winner, Kelce made sure to dedicate the victory to his pop-megastar girlfriend. Both Travis and…
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce ‘spend $100K PER DAY on private jets, multiple bodyguards and lavish hotel rooms’ (HF)
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce don’t even think about the big bucks anymore, as they prove that love has no price despite reportedly spending $100,000 a day together at times. According to Life & Style, the superstar couple isn’t afraid to treat each other…
End of content
No more pages to load