Reiko Aylesworth

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Reiko Aylesworth
Reiko Aylesworth in a promotional shoot
Birth name	Reiko Aylesworth
Born	December 9, 1972 (age 34) Chicago, Illinois, USA
Years active	1996-Present
Notable roles	Michelle Dessler in 24

Reiko Aylesworth (born December 9, 1972) is a contemporary American actress. She is best known for her work on the television series 24.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Fox's 24 1.2 Post 24 2 Trivia 3 Filmography and television 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Biography

Aylesworth was born in Chicago, Illinois of Dutch, Welsh,^{[citation needed]} and Japanese ancestry. Aylesworth moved to Seattle, Washington when she was 13 years old. She went on to study at the University of Washington.

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 & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 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.

[edit] Fox's 24

In 2001, Aylesworth had auditioned for the part of Nina Myers on FOX Network's 24 but lost to Sarah Clarke. In 2002, she again auditioned now 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 married to Almeida's character.

By the end of that season, the writers decided to have major cast changes, including the departure of her character. However, fan forums lit up with people asking for her to stay. In the twelfth episode of the fourth season, Aylesworth returned - now as a high-ranking bureaucrat in the organization and remained until the end of the season.

However, her character was killed in the first episode of Season 5.

[edit] Post 24

Aylesworth also had a much-publicized guest starring role on CSI 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 lasted only one episode.

Since her departure from 24, Aylesworth has guest stared on the short lived series Conviction, appeared on stage in The Fearless, filmed a supporting role in Kevin Costner’s Mr. Brooks, and has stared in the independent thriller The Killing Floor. Aylesworth was also originally cast as Dr. Adrienne Holland in the series 3 lbs. However, 3 lbs was not picked up at the time. When CBS finally decided to pick up the series for a late fall-2006 start, the leading roles were all recast. It is not known if Aylesworth simply declined to star in the new series due to commitments elsewhere or if she was not offered the role again.

On 25 September 2006 it was announced that Aylesworth was chosen for one of the two lead roles in Alien vs. Predator 2. She has been cast as Kelly O'Brien, a pilot and soldier. Most sources say Alien vs. Predator 2 is set to hit theaters on December 25, 2007.

In January 2007, Aylesworth had a guest role in two episodes of the new ABC comedy, The Knights of Prosperity in which she played the head of Mick Jagger’s security company.

[edit] Trivia

• She is ¼ Japanese.
• Her first name is pronounced "Ray-co," which means "child of thankfulness" or "child of gratitude."
• Has an extensive background in theater.
• Her 1992-1993 role in Peter Pan (Playing Wendy) at the Intiman Theatre Company in Seattle, Washington helped her gain an audition and eventually her first television role in One Life to Live.
• Is extremely good at pool.
• Is a huge rodeo fan. ^[2]
• Was born in the same Chicago hospital as her 24 costar, onscreen husband, and good friend, Carlos Bernard.
• Has remained friends with Bernard even after their roles on 24 concluded.
• Has appeared in numerous episodes and movies with fellow 24 regulars and guest stars although not always on screen with them. This includes Xander Berkeley in Magma: Volcanic Disaster and The Last Full Measure, Paul Schulze, JoBeth Williams, John Terry, and Michael Hyatt in Crazylove, Eric Balfour in Conviction, Devika Parikh in an episode of The West Wing, Dennis Haysbert in Now and Again, Dennis Haysbert and Kate Mara in Random Hearts, and Mary Lynn Rajskub in Man on the Moon.
• Reiko and Dennis Haysbert were both contracted to appear in just the first episode of Season 5 of 24. This leaked onto the Internet, and most fans of the show were able to determine the characters' fates well before the episode aired.
• Is well known for almost always having a smile on her face no matter where she is or what she’s doing. ^[3]
• Aylesworth says on the 24 Season 3 DVD Commentary for 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. that her favorite time on the show was when her character was sent out into the field. This is also stated by Jon Cassar in 24: Behind the Scenes on Page 64.
• Of all the characters she has played so far, her favorite has been Michelle Dessler who she describes as "a strong woman with a big heart." ^[4]
• Reiko has often received praise for her acting talents during DVD commentaries by directors, producers, writers, and fellow actors. These include Carlos Bernard, Sarah Wynter, and Michelle Forbes in 24 Season 2, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; Jared Rappaport, writer and director on Fathers & Sons; Anthony Michael Hall and Karl Schaefer in the The Dead Zone episode Deja Voodoo; and Jon Cassar, Kiefer Sutherland, and Robert Cochran in 24 Season 5, 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

[edit] Filmography and television

Start Year	Film/TV Show	Role	Other notes
2007	Alien vs. Predator 2	Kelly O'Brien
2007	Mr. Brooks	Jesse's Lawyer
2007	The Killing Floor	Audrey Levine
2007	The Knights of Prosperity	Simone Cashwell	Episodes: "Operation: Seduce Simone" & "Operation: Fighting Shape"
2006	Conviction	Julie Phelps	Episode: "Deliverance"
2006	24: The Game	Michelle Dessler
2006	Magma: Volcanic Disaster	Natalie Sheppard
2005	3 lbs	Dr. Adrienne Holland	Unaired Pilot (Series Recast After Initial Rejection by CBS)
2002	24	Michelle Dessler	(2002 - 2006)
2005	Crazylove	Letty Mayer
2005	Fathers and Sons	Business Woman
2004	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Chandra Moore	Episode: "Viva Las Vegas"
2004	The Last Full Measure	Mother
2003	North of Providence	Little Girl Voice
2003	The Dead Zone	Natalie Connor	Episode: "Deja Voodoo"
2002	The American Embassy	Liz Shoop
2002	Ed	Kate Harrison	Episode: "Ends and Means"
2001	Shooting Vegetarians	Daisy
2001	All Souls	Philomena Cullen
2000	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Erica Alden	Episodes: "Contact," "Remorse," & "Slaves"
2000	The West Wing	Janine	Episode: "Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics"
2000	No Deposit, No Return
1999	Man on the Moon	Mimi	Deleted Scene
1999	Now and Again	Dr. Taylor	Episode: "By the Light of the Moon"
1999	Random Hearts	Mary Claire Clark
1998	You've Got Mail	Thanksgiving Guest
1998	A Will of Their Own	Annie Jermaine
1997	Law & Order	Tiffany Sherman	Episode: "We Like Mike"
1997	Childhood's End	Laurie Cannon
1996	Lifestories: Families in Crisis	Rita	Episode: "Someone Had to Be Benny"
1993	One Life to Live	Rebecca Lewis

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Reiko Aylesworth at the Internet Movie Database
• BBC Drama Faces - Reiko Aylesworth