Sela Ward

Sela Ward (born July 11, 1956) is an American movie and television actress, producer, author, and former model.She moved to California to pursue acting and landed her first film role in the 1983Burt ReynoldsvehicleThe Man Who Loved Women. Her first regular role in a TV drama series, as a socialite onDennis Weaver's short-lived CBS series, Emerald Point N.A.S.,followed in the same year. Ward continued to land guest roles in both TV and movies throughout the 1980s, most notably oppositeTom HanksinNothing in Common (1986).In 1991, she was cast asTeddy Reed onSisters,for which she received her first Emmy forOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Seriesin 1994.She portrayed Helen Kimble, the wife of Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), inThe Fugitive, one of the top films of 1993. Ward won aCableACE Awardfor her portrayal of the late TV journalistJessica Savitchin the 1995 TV movie Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story, whichremains Lifetime's most watched TV movie to date.In 1995, she was passed over for aBond girlrole, learning that even though then-BondPierce Brosnanwas 42, thecasting directorsaid "What we really want is Sela, but Sela ten years ago". In response, she developed and produced a documentary, The Changing Face of Beauty, about American obsession with youth and its effect on women.Ward succeededCandice Bergenas commercial spokesperson forSprint'slong distance phone service (1999-2002). She also appeared onFrasieras supermodel/ zoologist Kelly Easterbrook in the 5th season opener ("Frasier's Imaginary Friend").When she read for the role of Lily Brooks Manning on the ABCdrama seriesOnce and Again (1999–2002), its creators (Edward ZwickandMarshall Herskovitz of thirtysomething fame) initially deemed her "too beautiful" for the average single mother to identify with. Ward received her 2nd lead actress Primetime Emmy Award anda Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series DramaIn 2004, she played the a private investigator in the TV movie Suburban Madness and she also appeared in the featurefilm The Day After TomorrowwithDennis QuaidandJake Gyllenhaal.In 2005, she landed a recurring role in the Fox seriesHouseas Stacy Warner, the hospital's attorney and formidable ex-partnerof the protagonist Dr. Gregory House(Hugh Laurie), until her character was written off the show in 2006.She was originally offered both the role ofMegan DonneronCSI: MiamiandSusan MayeronDesperate Housewives, but turned both down. She was reluctant to commit to another lead role in an hour-long series because of the time away from her family it would require.Although she was on a brief hiatus from TV, she continued to appear in feature films. She starred oppositeKevin CostnerinThe Guardianin 2006 and starred in the thrillerThe Stepfatherin 2009.In July 2010, she signed on to star inCSI: NY at the start of the 7th season and remained until the 9th and final season'. She appeared as newswoman Sharon Schieber inGone Girl(2014), and co-starred as the President of the United States inIndependence Day: Resurgence (2016). She also played the leading role alongside Nick Noltein the political comedy series Graves. She had a leading role in the crime seriesFBI (2018) for its' 1st season.