Marcia Anne Cross (born March 25, 1962) is an American actress best known for her television roles as Bree Hodge on Desperate Housewives and Dr. Kimberly Shaw on Melrose Place.

Career

Cross graduated from the Juilliard School in New York, and earned a master's degree in psychology at Antioch University Los Angeles. She began her television career in 1984 on the soap opera The Edge of Night. She then moved from New York to Los Angeles, and soon landed roles in television movies such as The Last Days of Frank and Jessie James, co-starring with Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. In 1986 she joined the cast of the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live, where she played Kate Sanders, until 1987.

In 1991, Cross guest-starred on the 13th season of Knots Landing as the wife of Pierce Lawton (Bruce Greenwood). She spent a lot of her screen-time on the show confronting Paige Matheson, played by her future Desperate Housewives co-star Nicollette Sheridan.

In 1992, Cross was cast as Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the FOX drama series Melrose Place. Initially cast for one season, she so impressed the producers that they kept bringing her back for more episodes, although she didn't become a full-fledged cast member in the opening credits until the fourth season. Cross' character started off as a love interest for the character of Dr. Michael Mancini, but gradually became more and more mentally unbalanced, providing some of the show's most memorable moments, which included blowing up the apartment building, trying to kill Michael, and stealing her neighbor Jo's baby. She left the show in 1997, after five seasons, with her character dying.

After leaving Melrose Place, Cross guest-starred on series such as Seinfeld, where she played Jerry's dermatologist girlfriend Dr. Sitarides (whom he mocked as "Pimple Popper M.D."), and Cheers, where she portrayed Susan Howe, the younger sister to Kirstie Alley's character, Rebecca Howe. She also appeared on the comedies Boy Meets World, Ally McBeal, Spin City, It's Garry Shandling's Show and King of Queens. Her dramatic roles include appearances on CSI, Profiler, Everwood and Touched by an Angel.

In 2003, prior to her role on Desperate Housewives, Cross spent a season starring as Linda Abbott on WB's critically-acclaimed series, Everwood.

In 2004, Cross landed the role of Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC dramedy series Desperate Housewives.

On stage, Cross has performed in La Ronde at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, in Twelfth Night, or What You Will at the Hartford Stage Company, and in The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Old Globe in San Diego. Her film credits include Living in Fear, Always Say Good-bye, Dancing in September, Bad Influence, and Female Perversions.

In November 2005, Cross appeared on the cover of the newly launched Psychologies magazine in the United Kingdom where she discussed her passion for psychology and therapy.

Personal life

Cross was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the daughter of Janet, a teacher, and Mark Cross, a personnel manager.www.filmreference.com/film/30/Marcia-Cross.html She was the long time companion of Richard Jordan. Jordan died from a brain tumor in 1993.www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article383944.ece

In early 2005, the Internet and tabloids swirled with rumors that Cross was gay and in a long-term relationship with another woman, and planning to come out of the closet. Cross actually appeared on the television show The View to deny the reports, but stated that she was very supportive of the gay community.

In August 2005, Cross' publicist also told the American celebrity newsmagazine Us Weekly that Cross had accepted the proposal of Tom Mahoney (b. 1958), a stock broker whom she had been dating for six months, and that the couple were engaged to be married. The couple got married on June 24, 2006, in front of 200 guests at the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Parish in San Gabriel, California. "It was a beautiful ceremony," a representative for Cross told People. "They're very happy."Wihlborg, Ulrica."Marcia Cross Gets Married." People. June 24, 2006.

On September 6, 2006, she announced that she was pregnant and due in April 2007"Wife & Mother", Daily Record, September 8, 2006. and on September 20 she revealed that she was expecting twins. On January 11, 2007, Cross was placed on precautionary bedrest until their delivery, requiring her to suspend her Desperate Housewives acting duties. However, Cross did not want to give up working, even bringing the entire cast and crew to her home to shoot some scenes in her very own bedroom. Cross's bedroom was painted to look like Bree's.

On February 20, 2007, Cross gave birth to fraternal twin daughters, Eden and Savannah at a Los Angeles hospital, shortly before Cross' 45th birthday.Gee, Alison. "Marcia Cross Welcomes Twin Girls" People. February 21, 2007. In an exclusive People interview, she revealed that she underwent in vitro fertilization soon after her wedding.COVER STORY: Marcia Cross Talks About Motherhood - Marcia Cross : People.com Both children were baptized at the Trinity Episcopal Church.

Cross's sister is singer songwriter, Ellen Cross.Us Exclusive: Desperate Housewives' Marcia Cross Gets Married

In September 2008, Cross stated in an interview that she was "in heaven right now" looking after her newborn twins, but also stated that she has a desire to adopt a child in the near future.Marcia: I Want To Adpot, MSN TV News, 22/09/2008

In December 2008, it was announced that Cross will become the face of Mott's apple sauce.www.express.co.uk/posts/view/76100/Cross-twins-land-mum-a-saucy-role These commercials began airing in March 2009.

On January 20, 2009 Cross' rep announced her husband had been diagnosed with cancer.www.people.com/people/article/0,,20253628,00.html

Filmography

• The Edge of Night (1984) (TV), Liz Correll
• Brass (1985), Victoria Willis
• One Life to Live (1985-86) (TV), Kate Sanders
• Tales From The Darkside (1986) (TV), Episode 44: Strange Love (vampire)
• The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James (1986) (TV), Sarah Hite
• Almost Grown (1988-1989) (TV), Lesley Foley
• Cheers (1989) (TV), Susan Howe
• Bad Influence (1990), Ruth Fielding
• Storm and Sorrow (1990) (TV), Marty Hoy
• Knots Landing (1991-1992), Victoria Broyelard
• Murder, She Wrote (1992), Marci Bowman
• Ripple (1995), Ali
• Melrose Place (1992-1997), Dr. Kimberly Shaw Mancini
• Always Say Goodbye (1996), Anne Kidwell
• Female Perversions (1996), Beth Stephens
• All She Ever Wanted (1996) (TV), Rachel Stockman
• Seinfeld (1997) (TV), Dr. Sara Sitarides
• Target Earth (1998) aka Taken Away, Karen Mackaphe
• Boy Meets World (1999) (TV), Rhiannon Lawrence, Topanga's mother - 4 episodes
• Dancing in September (2000), Lydia Gleason
• Profiler (2000)
• Living in Fear (2001), Rebecca Hausman
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Organ Grinder (Season 2 Episode 11) (2001), Julia Fairmont
• Eastwick (2002) (TV), Jane Spofford
• King of Queens (2002), Debi - cameo appearance
• Everwood (2003), Dr. Linda Abbott
• The Wind Effect (2003), Molly
• Desperate Housewives (2004–present), Bree Hodge
• Desperate Housewife: The Early Years (Always say goodbye) (2005), Anne Kidwell
• Peck (2009), TBD

Awards and nominations

Desperate Housewives

• 2005 Primetime Emmy Award (Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series)
• 2007 Golden Globe Award (Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical)
• 2006 Golden Globe Award (Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical)
• 2005 Golden Globe Award (Best Actress in a TV Series - Comedy or Musical)
• 2007 SAG Award (Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy series)
• 2006 SAG Award (Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series) WON
• 2005 SAG Award (Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series) WON
• 2005 Television Critics Association Award (Individual Achievement in Comedy)
• 2005 Satellite Award (Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy)
• 2006 Satellite Award (Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy) WON
• 2007 Prism Award (Performance in a Comedy Series)
• 2005 Prism Award (Performance in a Comedy Series)

Additional achievements

• 2007 - Placed 100 on TV Guide & Entertainment Weekly's "100 Greatest TV Icons" list.
• 2006 - Placed 91 on People Magazine's "100 Most Beautiful People In The World" list.
• 2005 - Placed 20 on the E Channel's "50 Most Wicked Women of Primetime" list for her character on Melrose Place, Dr. Kimberly Shaw
• 2005 - Placed 28 on VH1's "Hottest 40 People Over 40" list.
• 2005 - Named Most Beautiful Person at 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.