Nicole Forester

Actress Nicole Forester made one of her most enduring marks on daytime soap operas. Raised in the area of Ann Arbor, MI, Forester took her first dramatic bow during her preteen years, in a regional production of The Sound of Music in the Great Lakes State, then honed her dramatic abilities at a number of institutions, including Western Michigan University (as a musical theater major), the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (as a performance major), the Goethe Institute, and UCLA. Beginning in November 2005, Forester signed for the role of Cassie Layne Winslow on CBS's long-running drama Guiding Light. The actress inherited the part from predecessor Laura Wright, and fans reportedly felt some initial skepticism about Forester's ability to hold her own and recapture Wright's popularity in the role; Forester quickly and permanently dispelled this fear from viewers' minds and even received Emmy attention for her portrayal. Prior to Light, Forester's resumé includes guest appearances on series including Monk, Will & Grace, and Beverly Hills 90210, in addition to a lead in director Michael Keller's low-budget black comedy Vampires Anonymous (2000). - Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide