Biography
"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 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 Vampires, and the TV series "L.A. Doctors".
Trivia
Briefly dated David Duchovny.
Grew up in Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Was performing on stage and living in Seattle when she met director David Lynch.
An avid member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and has assertively campaigned against fur and mistreatment of animals.
Hit cult status and will be forever known as the beautiful blonde corpse and resultant object of mystery in the series "Twin Peaks". People were so fascinated with Sheryl and the Laura Palmer phenomenon, that they brought Sheryl back to life on the TV series in the form of another character, Madeleine Ferguson.
Was originally cast as Mary Alice Young for the ABC series "Desperate Housewives" 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: "She was so brave. I don't know many actors who could do that."
Director David Lynch was so impressed by Lee in "Twin Peaks"' pilot episode (especially the picnic scene where Laura dances and laughs with Donna) that he wrote the role of Maddy Ferguson for her, in order to bring her back in the series.
Is friends with Lenny von Dohlen who nicknamed her 'Angel Face'.
Married to musician Jesse Diamond, son of singer Neil Diamond; they have a son named Elijah.
Has a son named Elijah Diamond (born May 2nd 2000).
Is friends with actor Christopher McDonald.
Received the Spirit of Sundance Award for her body of work at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival.
Her French dubbing voice Dorothée Jemma is also the French dubbing voice of Jennifer Aniston and Melanie Griffith.
Replaced Brooke Smith as Andrea Smithson in "Dirty Sexy Money" after its pilot episode.
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.
Her "One Tree Hill" character Ellie, who battles breast cancer, works with her daughter Peyton (Hilarie Burton) on a compilation CD called "Friends with Benefit" to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. That CD was actually released as a tie-in album, with a portion of its proceeds going directly to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to assist in their efforts to promote early detection awareness among young women.
After starring alongside Moira Kelly (in Love, Lies and Murder (TV) and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me) and Craig Sheffer (in Bliss), she guest-starred on their TV series "One Tree Hill", although she didn't have a scene with them on the series.
Her role in Love, Lies and Murder (TV) was called by People magazine "one of the strongest TV roles of the year".
