| Biography: Michael Michele |
| MICHAEL MICHELE: Dr. Cleo Finch In her role as a doctor on "ER," Michael Michele portrays a contemporary woman who tries to balance a demanding professional life with personal responsibilities away from her gritty workplace where death is never far away. "It's very important to me to always make my characters capable of making choices in their personal and professional lives," says Michele. "Playing these kinds of characters also raises the bar and makes you a better actor. ‘ER' is a fast-paced series with a large ensemble cast, and there's no time for even a hiccup. You have to be ready to walk on the set and do your job right away." Michele joined the regular cast of "ER" in 1999 as a second-year (now third-year) resident in emergency medicine and pediatrics. "I would say the two operative words to describe her are independent and assertive," says the actress. Michele has also appeared in many films including "The Sixth Man," alongside Marlon Wayans, the urban drama "New Jack City," opposite Wesley Snipes, and the Shooting Gallery's independent film "The Substitute 2," with Treat Williams and B.D. Wong. Prior to joining the cast of "ER," she played Detective Rene Sheppard on "Homicide: Life on the Street." She was also a regular on the series "Central Park West," playing the role of Nikki, the savvy SoHo art gallery owner, and she had a recurring role as corporate lawyer Sandy Gill on "New York Undercover" for two seasons. A devoted mentor, Michele has been actively volunteering her time to work with underprivileged children since she was 15. In addition, she mentors and advises various youngsters in New York and the Midwest. An accomplished athlete, Michele played competitive basketball for the top-ranked women's high school basketball team in Indiana, making her a local celebrity in a state where basketball and "Hoosier hysteria" are the favorite pastimes. Besides her passion for roundball, she enjoys running ("It's my form of therapy"), listening to contemporary and classical jazz and reading (particularly biographies of financial titans). Michele resides in New York when not filming "ER." Her birthday is August 30. |
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