Diane Farr

As firefighter Laura Miles on FX's acclaimed drama, "Rescue Me," actress Diane Farr has had to fight not only burning buildings and the macho atmosphere at the station, but also her own good looks - her soft feminine features, paired with her quick wit, didn't always inspire the respect among the tough and dim, but on this and many of her other projects she more than held her own amid the frequently male castmates as an actress.

Farr's resume is like that of a classic over-achiever - actress, author, produce - stand-up comic, and one-time nightclub performer. Already modeling at age 12, Farr later developed an interest in acting while studying at New York's Stony Brook University. She earned a scholarship at Loughborough University's theater program in England, eventually earning a joint B.A. from both schools. Shortly thereafter, she earned bit parts on shows like "Silk Stalkings," (syndicated) and "Fired Up."

But Farr is perhaps best known as the lone female presence on the highly popular "Loveline" - the frank, sex-advice talk show featuring Dr. Drew and Adam Corrolla on MTV in the mid-1990s. She left that show to pursue acting full-time, landing a recurring role on "The Drew Carey Show" (ABC), before becoming a regular on "Roswell" (Fox). A spate of appearances on shows like "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS) and a memorable turn on HBO's "Arliss" followed.

This led to Farr landing a leading role on ABC's "The Job," (2002) a short-lived but critically acclaimed series created by Peter Tolan and Denis Leary, who later hired her for "Rescue Me." Farr started appearing in the final episodes of the show's first season. Between acting gigs, Farr has written pieces for several prominent magazines, from Glamour and Cosmopolitan, to Esquire and Maxim. Her first book, "The Girl Code," was published in 2001, a popular non-fiction look at the trial and tribulations of being a single girl.

With a comedian's instinct for turning personal disaster into creative fortune, Farr created her own greeting card company, Otherannouncements.com, when she was forced to send out cancellations to her wedding when her upcoming marriage was called off. She also developed a television series based on the situation, with a planned title of "Dumped." Farr has also tried her hand at producing, with "No Longer Children," an HBO original documentary about the kids who have managed to successfully run away from a cult, only to face the challenges of reintegrating into society.

Aside from her creative [rofessional endeavors, Farr has worked as a prison counselor, where she taught acting, and has owned and managed a New York City nightclub. She is also an accomplished snowboarder.