Deb's Page

Michael Michele (Dr. Cleo Finch)

In both her roles as a detective on US series "Homicide: Life On the Street" last year and as a doctor on ER this season, Michael Michele portrays contemporary women who try to balance their demanding professional lives with their personal responsibilities away from their gritty workplaces 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 Michael. "Playing these kind of characters also raises the bar and makes you a better actor. Both ‘Homicide’ and ‘ER’ are fast-paced series with large ensemble casts 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."

Michael joins the regular cast of ER as Dr. Cleo Finch, a second-year resident in emergency medicine and pediatrics. Says Michael: "At this time, I would say the two operative words to describe her are independent and assertive."

A devoted philanthropist, Michael has been actively volunteering her time to work with underprivileged children since she was 15 years old. In addition, she mentors and advises various youngsters in New York and the Midwest.

An accomplished athlete, Michael 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 favourite 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).

Michael resides in New York when not filming ER. Her birthday is August 30th.