Laura Leighton

Fans the world over loved and hated Sydney Andrews, Jane Mancini's scheming little sister on Melrose Place back in the '90s. Laura Leighton so impressed fans and producers that this spunky little redhead turned a short-term role into a long-term contract gig. She even met her future husband on the Melrose set. Laura has been married to Doug Savant (who played openly gay Matt Fielding) for almost 10 years now, and they have two children together to boot. She is also stepmom to Doug's two daughters from his first marriage.

Thinking back to her time on Melrose, it's a good thing for all of us that she did not have to fall back on her business degree. ("The business degree was something my mother thought I should do to fall back on, just in case," Laura explains).

When Laura won her infamous part on Melrose, she was thrilled. "Sydney was so much fun to play. I really dug the character; I could see there was so much potential there. It was definitely the right time for that character to come on to the show." And now, with the show out on DVD, her teenage stepdaughters get a kick out of watching their parents from back in the day. "They're like, 'I can't believe you wore that!' They find it all very funny."

Besides becoming a fan favourite and propelling some of the most fun storylines on Melrose, her exposure on the campy night-time soap scored her the coveted role of hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live in 1995. "That is probably the thing I am most proud to say I've had the opportunity to do," Laura says. "That experience is something I am honoured to have been asked to do. They have a hallway there that is lined with the headshots of all the people who have hosted and been on the show, and now I am one of the headshots."

guest-starring roles

The most vivid memory of her experience on SNL was "just laughing with Will Ferrell. He was so sweet and helpful. He was really kind and comforting. As a host, you are flying by the seat of your pants, but the regular cast does it all the time, so they don't get nervous. But he was really reassuring."

After Melrose, Laura appeared in guest-starring roles on many popular shows, like Beverly Hills, 90210, Early Edition, Tru Calling, Law & Order: SVU and Boston Legal. She also had starring roles on the short-lived series Skin and Eyes. Now she can be seen on Lifetime Television's Love Notes, where Laura plays Nora Flannery, a classical-music critic who has a one-night stand with a country music star that results in her pregnancy.

Laura explains: "Nora realises that she doesn't feel that she is up to the task of being a single mom, so she sets out on a journey to find the perfect parents for her unborn child. She didn't want to be a parent if she couldn't do it right. Throughout the journey and her search, she also makes discoveries about herself."

What drew Laura to this role was the story. "There are plenty of movies about a woman trying to solve a crime or a woman in danger. This is about a personal journey and discovery. Plus, what really excited me is I get to play the piano."

Laura also just wrapped up filming in New Mexico of her latest movie, The Burrowers, which is a western/-horror/thriller directed by J.T. Petty. The movie is slated for a 2008 release from Lionsgate.

Don't miss Laura's starring turn in Love Notes, which debuts on Lifetime Television on Monday, August 20 at 9 p.m.

- Cindy Elavsky