Sherri Saum

Sherri Saum is an American actress. As of 2013, Saum stars as Lena Adams Foster in the ABC Family drama series "The Fosters." She is also known for her television roles in "Beggars and Choosers," "Rescue Me" and "In Treatment," as well as for her roles in the daytime soap operas "Sunset Beach" and "One Life to Live."

Saum was born in Dayton, Ohio, to a German mother and an African-American father. Saum got her start at a Model Search America convention near her home in Kettering, Ohio. She was discovered during high school, modeling mostly during summer breaks until she decided to move to New York and work full-time with the New York modeling agency Images Management. Saum attended Ohio State University in Columbus and New York University in New York.

Saum began her acting career in the NBC daytime soap opera, "Sunset Beach" as Vanessa Hart, during the entire run of the series, from 1997 to 1999. She received an Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her role in show in 1999. Later in 1999, Saum was cast as series regular in Showtime comedy-drama series "Beggars and Choosers," and she guest-starred on "Girlfriends" and "Charmed." From August 31, 2001 to September 16, 2003, Saum had her second and final daytime television role in ABC soap, "One Life to Live," as Keri Reynolds.

From 2006 to 2007, Saum played the role of Natalie in the FX drama series "Rescue Me." The next few years she had guest-starring roles in CW's "Gossip Girl," CBS's "Unforgettable," ABC's "Body of Proof" and "Revenge."

In 2012, Saum was cast along with Teri Polo in the lead roles of Jennifer Lopez-produced drama series "The Fosters" for ABC Family.