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Kelly Rutherford

Kelly Rutherford

Actor · Born November 6, 1968 (57) · Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA

Kelly Danne Melissa Rutherford (born November 6, 1968) is an American actress known for her roles of Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore on Generations, Megan Lewis on Melrose Place from 1996 to 1999 and currently as Lily van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl. She was also Dixie Cousins on The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kelly Rutherford, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 6, 1968 (57)
From
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
28 on Motif · 55 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28

What are Kelly Rutherford's films like?

Across their 16 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Motif score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Motif score: 11th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Motif score: 15th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
34%
Morality
26%
Survival
17%
Self
14%
Power
4%
Ideas
4%
Society
1%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 7 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
5
Romantic
4
Thrilling
4
Warm
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kelly Rutherford's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 28 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kelly Rutherford's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

55 credits, 28 with a Motif page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Tributaries (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    as Cecilia

  • Escort Boys(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Alicia Moore

    Motif score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Power Book II: Ghost(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Colleen Saxe

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • All My Husband's Wives(2020)

    as Cheryl Volberg

    Motif score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Web of Dreams (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    Executive Producer

  • Fallen Hearts (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as Jillian Tatterton

  • Dark Angel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as Jillian Tatterton

  • V.C. Andrew's Casteel Family (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jillian Van Voreen Tatterton

  • Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · as Claire Hotchkiss

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Love, of Course(2018)

    as Amy Andolini

    Motif score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Gone(2017)

    Show 5 episodes · as Paula Lannigan

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Christmas Wedding Planner(2017)

    as Aunt Olivia

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Night of the Wild(2015)

    as Sara

    Motif score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Quantico(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Laura Wyatt

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Jane the Virgin(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Leslie

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Mysteries of Laura(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Lisa Hanlon

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • The Stream(2013)

    as Maggie Terry

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • A Sister's Nightmare(2013)

    as Jane

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 121 episodes · as Lily van der Woodsen

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Tell Me No Lies(2007)

    as Laura Cooper

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Gone(2006)

    as Paula

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • E-Ring (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 22 episodes · as Samantha 'Sonny' Liston

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Stephanie McNamara

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Threat Matrix (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 16 episodes · as Frankie Ellroy-Kilmer

  • Angels Don't Sleep Here(2002)

    as Kate Porter

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Swimming Upstream(2002)

    as Sandra Bird

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Night Visions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Marilyn Lanier (segment "The Passenger List")

  • Acceptable Risk (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Kim Welles

  • The District (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 6 episodes · as Melinda Lockhart

  • The Chaos Factor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Jodi

  • Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lady Maria Cosway

  • Scream 3(2000)

    as Christine

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Get Real (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Laura Martineau

  • The Disturbance at Dinner (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Marion Pronkridge

  • The Perfect Getaway (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Julia Robinson

  • The Big Fall(1997)

    as Veronica

    Motif score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Six Months of Darkness, Six Months of Light (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Annie

  • Cyclops, Baby (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Randy

  • Buried Secrets (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Danielle Roff

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kindred: The Embraced (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 8 episodes · as Caitlin Byrne

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Roxanne 'Roxie' Hill

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Courthouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • No Greater Love(1995)

    as Edwina Winfield

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Rachel

    Motif score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Great Defender (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • I Love Trouble(1994)

    as Kim

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.(1993)

    Show 7 episodes · as Dixie Cousins

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Melrose Place(1992)

    Show 92 episodes · as Megan Lewis

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Mona

  • Bodies of Evidence (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Breaking the Silence (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Cheryl

  • Homefront (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 42 episodes · Actor

  • Teech (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Annette

  • Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge(1989)

    as Salesgirl

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 55 titles from 1989 to 2024; peak year 2019.

Biggest box office

I Love Trouble (1994)

$31M worldwide

Highest rated

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993)

Motif 91st

Most popular right now

Gossip Girl (2007)

Film career

19892024

Peak 2019 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 4 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting54 of 55: 54 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score42ndProducing1 of 55: 1 only producing, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s14 · acting2010s15 · 14 acting · 1 crew2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 30% of 10 roles
8914

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Kelly Rutherford's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 28th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 32nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Motif score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 28 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Swimming Upstream (2002)

80th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993)

Motif 91st · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 52/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 68, detractors 27. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Kelly Rutherford's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 58 · moderateMedian of all films: 31

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Kelly Rutherford work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kelly Rutherford's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Matthew Settle shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers and cinematographers