"Dead, wrapped in plastic" is how Sheryl Lee entered onto the scene as Laura Palmer, the doomed homecoming queen on the cult TV series Twin Peaks.

Lee was born April 27, 1967 in Germany. She grew up in Boulder, Colorado, spending much of her youth studying dance before knee injuries ended her hope of becoming a dancer. She began acting in school plays, graduated from Fairview High School, and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California. Lee also spent time at the North Carolina School of Arts, the National Conservatory Theater in Denver, and Colorado University before pursuing stage work in Seattle, Washington.

Here Lee landed the role of Laura Palmer, and she later appeared on Twin Peaks as Laura's cousin Madeleine Ferguson. Madeleine was a brunette and wore glasses, but of course bore a striking resemblance to her late relative. Lee worked with Twin Peaks mastermind David Lynch again on the film David Lynch's Wild at Heart, and resurrected Laura Palmer one last time for Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.

Lee has gone on to have a long and adventurous career since then. Appearances have included the Stuart Sutcliffe biopic Backbeat, the John Carpenter film Vampire$, and the TV series L.A. Doctors.



Briefly dated David Duchovny. An avid member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and has assertively campaigned against fur and mistreatment of animals. Married to musician Jesse Diamond, son of singer Neil Diamond; they have a son named Elijah. Was originally cast as Mary Alice Young for the ABC series "Desperate Housewives" (2004) in its pilot episode, but was replaced by Brenda Strong. Actor Lenny von Dohlen said on her performance in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992): "She was so brave. I don't know many actors who could do that." Is friends with actor Christopher McDonald. Received the Women in Film's "Woman of the Year" Award. [1995] Her French dubbing voice Dorothée Jemma is also the French dubbing voice of Jennifer Aniston and Melanie Griffith. Participated in the 3rd Munchkin's Project Pink annual breast cancer awareness campaign to raise money for breast cancer research. The project consists of the donation of celebrity-decorated and autographed bath ducks, put up for auction. [October 2008] According to director Iain Softley, as soon as he met Sheryl Lee, he knew that she would be perfect to portray Astrid Kirchherr in Backbeat (1994). Her Vampires (1998) character Katrina was chosen by UGO.com as one of the "Top 50 Sexiest Vampires". [2008] Her role in Love, Lies and Murder (1991) (TV) was called by People magazine "one of the strongest TV roles of the year".