Russell Talks About “Wonder Woman”

Actress Kerri Russell has been preparing for her role as “Wonder Woman” since she was four.

“I have vivid memories of being four years old and my mom making a Halloween costume for me – and I was Wonder Woman, thank you very much,” Russell said. ” It had the tiara and the wristbands, and I remember my younger sister was clearly upset that she didn’t have that costume. I’m standing there very proudly in my Wonder Woman outfit, and she’s standing just naked in a diaper and a cape, looking at me as if to say, “Where’s my costume?” So I guess that was my first official Wonder Woman stint.”

Russell has been one of many names linked to the role of Wonder Woman should a live-action version of the popular character ever get off the ground. However, until that time, fans can hear Russell as the voice of Diana/Wonder Woman in the latest WB animated feature, “Wonder Woman.”

The direct-to-home-theater hit stores Tuesday and is available on DVD, Blu-Ray and on-demand and tells the story of Wonder Woman’s origins.

” I personally adore origin stories – they’re so intriguing, learning what shaped and formed a character,” Russell said. “And this story is funny and action-packed and adult in a nice way.”

“I just think Wonder Woman is cool,” she continued. “She’s got her invisible jet, and her armbands. There is something to be said about the gender issue, but I think more than anything Wonder Woman was just a good, cool comic, and that’s wh people read it. It wasn’t like just throwing one to the ladies. She was tough and smart, and her super powers were cool, so that’s why I think Wonder Woman has staying power.”

Of course, growing up a fan, Russell is aware of the many incarnations of Wonder Woman on the small-screen, including Linda Carter as the character in the 70’s. Russell said she was aware of the other actresses who have played or given voice to “Wonder Woman” but that she worked with the script to bring something different to the role.

“I was trying to focus on her differences – she’s a true, strong warrior, but she’s also right at the break of being a young woman standing on her own and fighting out in the world,” russel said. “So it was a question of playing the innocence in her voice against the strength of a warrior, and then balancing that against Virginia Madsen playing her mother with such warmth and wisdom already in her voice. So finding Diana’s voice was trying to figure out how to walk that line.”

And Russell said that acting with Nathan Fillion as her love-interest didn’t hurt things either.

“Nathan and I have decided to do all our movies together, animated or non-animated,” she quipped, referring to the fact that she appeared with Fillion in “Waitress.” “He really is a huge part of the reason I took this. When I heard he was doing this, I thought, “Oh Nathan’s doing that voice – I want to act with him,” even though I don’t even see him once the whole time we’re recording this. He’s so funny for this – he has the old kind of 1940s swagger, that sharp rah-rah-rah dialogue that he does so well, and it’s written so well for him in the script. I think he’s perfect for Steve (Trevor). I just want to know what we get to do together next.”