Michelle Clunie

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Michelle Clunie, who has won critical and popular audiences for her portrayal of the beautiful, intelligent, human Melanie Marcus of Showtime's groundbreaking series "Queer as Folk," may have learned few specifics about playing a lesbian. But it was certainly there that she developed the talent, integrity and dedication to craft for which she is now known, regardless of the role she chooses.

A gifted dancer, she accepted a scholarship to the Academy of Professional Ballet, and performed with the company until her focus turned to acting and she moved to Los Angeles.

Over the years, Clunie has appeared in "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday" and "The Usual Suspects." She has also made guest appearances in several television shows, including "JAG," "Judging Amy," "ER," "Boy Meets World," "Diagnosis Murder," "House," "Without a Trace," "Make It or Break It" and "CSI."

In addition to her featured and guest-starring roles on television drama/comedy series, she also worked in Los Angeles on stage, and produced and starred in the original play "A Comedy of Eros," for which she received the Drama-Logue Award for Best Actress.

Clunie devotes time outside her professional pursuits to Destination Foundation, a non-profit organization that grants dream trips to people in the San Francisco Bay area who are living with life-threatening illness. She has also toured in "The Vagina Monologues" in performances that raised funds to fight violence against women.