It
was early in 1997 when I first became aware of Laura. I had seen promos
on NBC for a new show called Just Shoot Me. The attractive woman
in the ads caught my attention, so I looked up NBC's web site on the show
to find out who she was. I decided to check the show out (since its first
two episodes followed Frasier and Wings, two shows I always
watch, I probably would have done this anyway, to be truthful). It turned
out to be a pretty good show. I fell in love with the Maya character (and
consequently, Laura). She was a strong, principled female character with
a biting wit, but also warm and caring- a very rare breed on television
these days. Plus, the show was funny to boot. The journalistic setting
has become rather old hat these days, but Just Shoot Me was different
in that it used the setting as an opportunity for wicked satire, rather
than as just a backdrop for some wacky characters to fool around. The subject
being mocked was Cosmo/Vogue-type fashion publications. (Guys, if you've
ever taken a look at those magazines your sister or girlfriend reads, you
know how ridiculous they can be.) Although it was (in my opinion) easily
the best new series of that season, it aired only six episodes. Thankfully,
though, NBC decided to bring it back for a second season, and it promptly
blossomed into a success.
Hoboken,
New Jersey (sources conflict on this), and was raised in the nearby city
of Denville. She went to Morris Knolls High School in Denville, where she
first got into acting, playing the lead in several school plays. She carried
the interest on to college, where she completed a fine arts degree with
an emphasis in acting at Carnegie-Mellon University. After early guest
appearances in the series Crime Story and The Equalizer,
Laura finally achieved prominence in 1989 in the movie sex, lies, and
videotape as Andie MacDowell's sister who has an affair with Andie's
husband, played by Peter Gallagher. Critics and fans alike were quickly
drawn to one of the sexiest, most sensuous actresses to hit the screen
in a long time. The role, which garnered her a Golden Globe nomination,
remains probably her best known role. Next, she was Julia Roberts's friend
in Pretty Woman. Succeeding films included Quigley Down Under,
Under Suspicion, and Stuart Saves His Family. In 1994, she
finally got to play a starring role- the title character in a small independent
film called Nina Takes a Lover. Unfortunately, the film was not
a commercial success despite being beautifully made and featuring 
one
of Laura's most endearing performances yet. Television work of hers
includes the miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand and
the telefilms The Right To Remain Silent and For Their Own Good.
In 1997, she made her sitcom debut in Just Shoot Me with George
Segal and David Spade. The main factor in Laura's decision to do a sitcom
was the birth of her first child. Television would provide a much more
conventional work schedule and a more stable environment, allowing her
to care for her baby more properly. She and son Mason currently live in
the San Fernando Valley.
To see Laura's complete filmography, check out her entry at Internet Movie Database.
If
you have any info to add to this page, contact me at tomncrow@mounet.com.