Battlestar Galactica (2005-2006) as Admiral Helena Cain
True Blood (2008-2012) as Maryann Forrester / Woman in the Road
Short Info
Date Of Birth
January 8, 1965
Mark
Dark hair and pale skin
Fact
After appearing in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Ro Laren, she was approached to play the same character in a starring role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993). When she turned down the part, because she didn't want to commit to a regular television role at that point in her career, a new Bajoran character, Kira Nerys, was created and Nana Visitor was cast in that part.
Michelle Forbes was born on January 8, 1965 in Austin, Texas. Her parents were Palle and James Forbes. She has two sisters, Dana and Leslie. Forbes attended Westlake High School in Austin and graduated in 1983. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied English and drama. After graduation, she moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.
Forbes made her television debut in 1986 on the soap opera Guiding Light. She went on to have roles on such shows as Star Trek: The Next Generation, Homicide: Life on the Street, and NYPD Blue. In 1996, she starred in the short-lived series Mr. & Mrs. Smith. She also had a recurring role on the HBO series True Blood.
In addition to her work on television, Forbes has also appeared in several films. These include RoboCop 3, Kalifornia, Swimming with Sharks, and The Game.
Forbes has been married twice. Her first husband was Ross Kettle, whom she divorced in 1995. She has two children with her second husband, actor Bokeem Woodbine. The couple married in 1997 and divorced in 2006.
General Info
Full Name
Michelle Forbes
Date Of Birth
January 8, 1965
Height
1.75 m
Profession
Actor
Nationality
American
Accomplishments
Awards
Satellite Award for Best Television Ensemble
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in ...
Movies
Kalifornia, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Swimming with Sharks, Escape from L.A., Homicide: The Movie, Battlestar Galactica: Razor, Black Day Blue Night, Roadflower, Love Bites, Johnson County War, American Girl, Dear Sidewalk, Perfume, Dandelion, Bullfighter, Highland Park, Dry Martini, ...
TV Shows
Powers, The Returned, True Blood, The Killing, Durham County, Messiah, Homicide: Life on the Street, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Father Dowling Mysteries, Berlin Station, Wonderland, The Prosecutors, Love Is the Drug, Global Frequency
About her character on Battlestar Galactica (2004): I tend to play a lot of authoritative, strong women, so initially this simply wasn't something I wanted to do. God bless them, though, for being so pursuant of me. The Galactica producers sent me a set of DVDs, because I had never seen the show, either. Galactica is amazingly good and well-written. I shudder to think I almost lost out on working with those wonderful people and on such a powerful story. (TV Zone Magazine, January 2005).
2
On turning down Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993): There were all sorts of rumors about why I didn't take [the DS9 role] and that I was quite arrogant about the whole thing. It wasn't that at all. It was, again, about wanting variety in my career. If I'd gone on to do DS9, I might not have had the variety I've been lucky to have in my career. That's not to say I wasn't grateful for the opportunity; I genuinely was. However, I had to make a choice that felt right for me, which was a difficult one, especially as a young actor being offered a steady job. (TV Zone Magazine, January 2005)
Facts
#
Fact
1
In order to play the deaf character of "Susan Metcalfe" on the BBC series Messiah (2001), she learned British Sign Language within six days.
2
A Star Trek action figure was made in the likeness of Ensign Ro Laren, her character on the series.
After appearing in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Ro Laren, she was approached to play the same character in a starring role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993). When she turned down the part, because she didn't want to commit to a regular television role at that point in her career, a new Bajoran character, Kira Nerys, was created and Nana Visitor was cast in that part.
