Reiko Aylesworth
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Reiko Aylesworth as 24's Michelle Dessler |
Reiko Aylesworth (born
December 9,
1972) is a
contemporary American actress. She is perhaps best known for her work on the
television series 24.
Aylesworth was born in
Chicago, Illinois of
Dutch,
Welsh and
Japanese ancestry. Beginning her career on the soap opera
One Life to Live, she also had minor roles in
Random Hearts, and
You've Got Mail. After guest starring roles in
Law and Order SVU,
Now and Again, and
The West Wing, Aylesworth was part of the
2001 series
All Souls, which was cancelled during its first season. In
2002, Aylesworth joined the cast of another series,
American Embassy which also failed to gain an audience.
In 2001, Aylesworth had auditioned for the part of turncoat agent
Nina Myers on
24 but lost to
Sarah Clarke. In 2002, she again auditioned for the role of Kate Warner, but lost to
Sarah Wynter. The producers, however, asked her to join the cast as recurring character
Michelle Dessler, a
CTU agent.
Her character quickly developed a relationship with fellow agent Tony Almeida (
Carlos Bernard), and became a firm fan favorite.
By the third season, Aylesworth had become a main cast member and, when the writers decided to have major cast changes at the end of that season, including the departure of her character, fan forums lit up with people asking for her to stay. In the twelfth episode of the fourth season, Aylesworth returned - Michelle now a high-ranking bureaucrat in the organization. She remained for the remainder of the fourth season, but the character was killed in the first moments of Season 5.
Aylesworth also had a much-publicized guest starring role on
which was initially rumored to be a regular role. However, after
fired cast members
Jorja Fox and
George Eads were rehired, and with the offer to return to
24, Aylesworth's role became just one episode long.
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BBC Drama Faces - Reiko Aylesworth
