BIOGRAPHY
Cynthia Watros recently starred on the series "Titus," where she enjoyed taking her character Erin from a sweet, pretty girl-next-door to a woman darkly compelled and equally compelling. Additionally, Watros starred on "The Drew Carey Show" as Kellie Newmark, the down-and-out beauty with a life-long crush on Drew. Her Daytime Emmy Award-winning portrayal of Annie Dutton on "Guiding Light" (which also earned her the Soap Opera Magazine title of one of "Daytime's 50 Most Beautiful People") followed a similarly juicy descent. Initially introduced as a warm-hearted nurse, she captivated viewers and critics (and Emmy voters) alike when she slowly revealed herself as a woman hell-bent on revenge.

Watros will next be seen in the independent film "American Crude," with Jennifer Esposito and Rob Schneider. Other film credits include "Yellow Bird," in which she played an innocent preacher's daughter (to James Coburn and Brenda Blethyn) turned rebellious, high-priced prostitute. She dazzled her audience, her cast and the short film's first-time director, Faye Dunaway, who also adapted and produced the Tennessee Williams classic. As the female lead of Steve Guttenberg's feature directorial debut, "P.S. Your Cat Is Dead" (based on Pulitzer-winner James Kirkwood's lauded Broadway hit), Watros played the erotic lover of Guttenberg's character who tires of his failures, only to display a fast-hardening and cheating heart. She also starred in the comedy "His and Hers," opposite Liev Schreiber and Michael Raspiolo, which premiered at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, and in the independent film "Cafe Society," with Peter Gallagher.

Additional television credits include a very memorable guest appearance on ABC's "Spin City," in which she played Michael J. Fox's girlfriend, a law student by day and stripper by night.

Watros graduated from Boston University's School of Fine Arts, where she began her training, starring in such stage productions as "Death and the Maiden," "The Heidi Chronicles" and "Les Liasons Dangereuses." Upon graduation and winning BU's coveted Career Entry Award, she moved to New York City, where she soon landed a lead role in the off-Broadway production of John Patrick Shanley's "Four Dogs and a Bone," which the playwright himself directed.

Watros currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, real estate developer Curt Gilliland, and the couple's twin daughters, Emma Rose Marie and Sadie Anna Marie.

Her birthday is September 2.

SELECT FILMOGRAPHY

• American Crude (2005) as Jane
• "The Drew Carey Show" (2002-2004) as Kellie Newmark
• "Titus" (2000) as Erin Fitzpatrick
• His and Hers (1997) as Pam
• "Guiding Light" (1995-1998) as Annie Dutton Banks #1
• Cafe Society (1995) as Diane Harris

SOURCES

• ABC Medianet
• Internet Movie Database