Daphne Ashbrook

A veteran American actress, Daphne Ashbrook has a long list of TV and film credits, but is best known to sci-fi fans for her starring role in the 1996 "Doctor Who" TV movie. Born to parents who were both involved in local San Diego theater, her first role came in a two-part guest spot on the action series "Hardcastle and McCormick" in 1983. She played a Czech student in the performing-arts drama "Fame," but her most significant role in the '80s came on the primetime soap "Falcon Crest," where she had a recurring part in 1988. She co-starred in the made-for-TV movie "Rock Hudson" and had a supporting role in "Intruders," a TV movie about an alien invasion.

She co-starred in another sci-fi project in 1995, appearing with Olivier Gruner in the feature "Automatic," before portraying Dr. Grace Holloway in "Doctor Who." As the doctor's love interest, she redefined the series somewhat, giving it a more romantic tone. A year later she had a recurring role on the short-lived Aaron Spelling drama "Pacific Palisades" and could occasionally be seen on the naval-themed drama "JAG" from 1995 until 1998. She also played Dawn Atwood for five episodes of the youth drama "The O.C" and had a supporting role in the 1998 fantasy romance "The Love Letter," a TV movie starring Jennifer Jason Leigh.