CSI: crime scene investigation

“Catherine Willows” (Marg Helenberger)

A single parent with a young daughter, Catherine's a former exotic dancer turned street-smart veteran criminalist who juggles the job she loves with her responsibilities at home. The horrors of the crime scenes Catherine investigates bring into sharper focus her fears for her child, making her even more determined to shield her little girl from the seamier, shadowy side of Vegas that is revealed after the sun goes down. Only recently, she discovered that her close family friend, casino titan Sam Braun, is her biological father, and she must struggle with her feelings toward him since a CSI investigation she spearheaded implicated him in a murder case.

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 For her work in CSI’s premiere season, Marg Helgenberger was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Actress in a Drama Series; she was nominated again in Season 3. Before returning to series television as a crime scene investigator, Helgenberger was perhaps best known to viewers for her Emmy Award-winning role as “K.C. ” in the series China Beach. Her other television credits include a recurring guest appearance on E.R. as George Clooney’s love interest and the television movies Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, Thanks of a Grateful Nation, The Happy Face Murders and the mini-series The Tommyknockers.

Helgenberger starred in the feature film Erin Brockovich with Julia Roberts. Her additional feature film credits include Species, Species II, Fire Down Below, The Last Time I Committed Suicide, My Fellow Americans, Cowboy Way, Bad Boys, Always and Crooked Hearts. Most recently, she starred in the feature film Synergy with Dennis Quaid and Scarlett Johannson, which is scheduled for release in early 2005.

 Helgenberger lives in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Alan Rosenberg, and their son Hugh. Her birth date is November 16.