Sela Ward

Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Sela Ward graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in fine art and advertising. She moved to New York City and began working as a storyboard artist, but when she was recruited to be a model it was too tempting to turn down. After modeling for print and TV campaigns, Ward moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Her first role came in the Blake Edwards comedy "The Man Who Loved Women" (1983) staring Burt Reynolds and Julie Andrews. The same year, she landed her first series regular role on "Emerald Point N.A.S." (CBS, 1983-84), chronicling life on a military base. When that show was cancelled after one season, Ward continued to work, playing supporting roles in films like "Nothing in Common" (1986) starring Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason and TV series such as "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1986-1994). In 1991, she began her starring role on the on the series "Sisters" (NBC, 1991-96), for which she earned her first Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1994. Ward continued to play supporting roles in features as well, memorably playing the murdered wife of Harrison Ford's Richard Kimble in the hit film adaptation of "The Fugitive" (1993). In 1996, Ward was nominated for another Emmy, when she played the title character in the TV Movie "Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story" (Lifetime, 1996). Two more nominations and one victory came when she played the lead role in the drama "Once and Again" (ABC, 1999-2002). She played a substantial recurring role on the medical drama "House" (Fox, 2004-2012) and a major part on "CSI: NY" (CBS, 2004-2013). Supporting roles in the films "Gone Girl" (2014) and "Independence Day: Resurgence" (2016) were followed by a series regular role in the political drama "Graves" (Epix, 2016-17) starring Nick Nolte as a former President of the United States.