Sela Ward

Sela Ward, born on July 11, 1956, is an accomplished American actress, producer, author, and former model, recognized for her contributions to both film and television.

Ward moved to California in pursuit of her acting career, securing her debut film role in the 1983 Burt Reynolds movie, The Man Who Loved Women. That same year, she began her first regular role on television as a socialite in the CBS drama Emerald Point N.A.S., which was short-lived. Throughout the 1980s, she made numerous guest appearances on various shows and films, most notably acting alongside Tom Hanks in Nothing in Common (1986).

In 1991, she gained wider recognition when she was cast as Teddy Reed on the series Sisters, winning her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1994. Ward also portrayed Helen Kimble in the acclaimed film The Fugitive (1993). Her role as journalist Jessica Savitch in the 1995 TV movie Almost Golden garnered her a CableACE Award and remains Lifetime's most-viewed TV movie.

Ward's career continued to flourish as she transitioned between film and television, including notable roles in House and the ABC drama Once and Again. She was originally offered roles in both CSI: Miami and Desperate Housewives but declined due to family commitments. She later starred opposite Kevin Costner in The Guardian (2006) and appeared in the thriller The Stepfather (2009).

In July 2010, she joined the cast of CSI: NY for its seventh season, contributing until its conclusion. Her recent work includes a role in Gone Girl (2014) and portraying the President in Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), as well as leading in the political comedy series Graves and the crime series FBI in 2018.