Whitney Russell is a fictional character in the American television soap opera Passions, which aired on NBC from 1999 to 2007 and on DirecTV in 2007–08. The role of Witney was created by the soap's creator and head writer James E. Reilly; the character was portrayed by Brook Kerr from the series' debut on July 5, 1999, to September 7, 2007. In 2005, Sidne Siobhan Phillips portrayed the character in flashbacks. Kerr was initially rejected for the role due to the age of the actress, but she was later hired after her husband sent head shots to the network.