Why Keri Russell Loves That Her The Diplomat Character Is Still Wearing the 'Same Black Suit' in Season 2

Keri Russell just revealed a big fashion detail tied to her The Diplomat character.

On Sunday, Oct. 20, the actress, 48, was on a panel at PaleyFest in New York City ahead of the release of season 2 of the hit Netflix series, and she shared that her character wears the "same black suit" in its upcoming installment that was featured in the show's debut season.

"Her clothes and knowledge, I love all of that," Russell said of her political figure character Kate. "We are three years in and I still wear the same black suit. I change my shirt color sometimes, but I wear the same black suit, and – gosh darn it – I love it."

The series star shared that the style decision is intentional because when one has such staple pieces in their wardrobe they are "free to think about other things."

"I think maybe men have this more than women get to, but I love dressing up too. I love all of those things, and the power of clothes and fashion and all of that," she said. "But when you have a uniform, you're not thinking – you're not spending mental time thinking about anything else other than what you want to focus on."

"There's a real freedom in that," she continued. "And I really appreciate that."

In 2023, the show’s costume designer Roland Sanchez spoke to IndieWire about Kate’s big fashion moment in season 1, which saw the high-profile character trading in her signature black suit for a red formal gown as she attended a gala. 

Sanchez said the decision was made by showrunner Debora Cahn. "Red was always in Debora’s script," the designer said. "Debora laid it all out. She’s very in tune. She’s very costume oriented and there’s reasons why she does things for these characters."

In the political thriller, which first premiered on the streamer in 2023, Russell plays U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Kate Wyler, who, alongside her husband Hal Wyler, becomes embroiled in international affairs in an attempt to prevent a global war.

The synopsis for season 2 reads, "A deadly explosion in the heart of London shatters US Ambassador Kate Wyler’s world. Struggling to rebuild the lives that broke and the team that split apart, Kate’s worst fears unfold: The attack that brought her to the UK didn’t come from a rival nation, it came from inside the British government."

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Alongside Russell and Rufus Sewell, who plays Hal, the show stars Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh and David Gyasi, all of whom were at the Paley Center event with Cahn. Additionally, Emmy winner Allison Janney will be joining the cast in the second season in an anticipated guest spot as Vice President Grace Penn. 

Russell shared with PEOPLE at the PaleyFest event that she “was nervous, a little bit” to be acting opposite Janney, "just because she’s awesome and so good."

Season 2 of The Diplomat premieres Thursday, Oct. 31 on Netflix.