MOM GONE ‘WILD’ K
Keri Russell celebrated Mother’s Day by scaling cliffs and chowing down on nature’s ‘stew’
RUNNING WILD WITH BEAR GRYLLS Monday, 10 p.m., NBC
KERI Russell wasn’t served breakfast in bed last Mother’s Day. Instead, she slept on a bed made of pine needles and dined on grilled crickets. It was one year ago that Russell, 42, jetted to the Canary Islands for a few days of canyon-rappelling with outdoorsman Bear Grylls. However, Russell’s real-life partner, her co-star on “The Americans,” Matthew Rhys, did give her a present to open on the plane ride there. “Matthew had bought one of those survival necklaces to keep medicine or something in the vial — and put inside a tiny little picture of all three kids and a handwritten note from [her son] River that just said, ‘Don’t die,’ ” she told The Post via e-mail. “Really made me laugh.” Russell shared more stories about her excursion off the coast of northwestern Africa.
Did you know what to expect on your trip?
I was most surprised by how physical it was. I thought I’d have to do a little hike or something and that they’d kind of let me fake the rest. That was definitely not the case.
What was Matthew’s reaction about you doing Bear’s show?
Pure, unadulterated jealousy. Matthew is obsessed with all things Army, Special Forces (which Bear was) and tough-guy, outdoor stuff. The idea that I got asked to do it before him when he loves all of it so much was, I’m sure, a bummer. But he 100 percent told me to go for it.
You scaled cliffs. Do you have a fear of heights?
I wouldn’t say I have a fear of heights, but I don’t think you realize how intense it is once you’re actually that high. There was definitely some choice language to get me through. That, and purely pride. I didn’t want to be acting like a wimp on television.
What was the most difficult part?
An uphill climb toward the end. I kept thinking: Surely, some strapping, handsome, military-looking guys will step in and pull me up the rest of the way. But no, I had to push through and climb up. Sweating. Shaking. Hoping someone had a beer for me back at camp.
What was the most fun?
Just the true adventure of it all. Not knowing. No phones. Being out in nature and really having to push myself physically. And when Bear and I made out in the tent at night (kidding!).
You tried a “stew” that Bear made with rabbit “poop” and partially digested seeds from a dead bird’s stomach. Was that really rabbit poop?
He said he boiled out the bad stuff. And how were the crickets the next morning? By that point, they were delicious!
In the episode, you say your son River “willed” you to do the show. How did he convince you?
He just told me I had to do it. And I desperately wanted him to think I was cool. Does he think you’re a badass now? I don’t think so. (Isn’t that f---ed up?!) Being a mom is such a thankless job. —