"Women in the military thank me for portraying a character who's feminine and attractive and sexual and yet still strong and intelligent and in the military. I think people have this perception that to be strong and a military woman you have to look a certain way or not be feminine."

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Catherine Lisa Bell was born on August 14, 1968, in London, England. Of British and Iranian descent (Catherine speaks fluent Farsi), a 3-year-old Catherine relocated to Los Angeles with her family.

Although she had appeared in some television commercials as a child, Catherine originally wanted to be an artist. She ended up going to UCLA to study medicine, with the intention of becoming a surgeon or a biomedical engineer, but she had a slight change of plans...

Catherine began modeling part-time while in college. She put her studies on hold when she headed to Japan to model for several months, but she still felt that her shyness was holding her back. That's where acting came in: Catherine hired an acting coach to help her get over her shyness.

Her parents supported her decision to pursue acting (rather than the more secure medical field), but it took her years of auditions to finally get the break she needed. Catherine started out with guest appearances on television shows like Dream On in 1994, Friends in 1995 ("The One with the Baby on the Bus"), Hot Line in 1996, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys in 1997, and a recurring role on Sin City Spectacular in 1998.

Before landing her breakthrough role of Major/Lt. Colonel Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie on JAG, she was cast in the recurring role of Lt. Dianne Schonke, in one of the show's first seasons. Catherine was killed off the show after only a couple of appearances, but the good news was that the show's creator and executive producer was so impressed by her performance, she was made the female lead in 1997.

Catherine also added several film roles to her credit, including Isabella Rossellini's body double in 1992's Death Becomes Her, 1994's Men of War, 1997's Crash Dive and Black Thunder, the made-for-TV-movies Mother of the Bride (1993) and Alien Nation: Body and Soul (1995), and starring roles in Cab to Canada (1998) and The Time Shifters (1999). She also appeared as a square in Hollywood Squares.

In 2003, Catherine had a more significant big-screen role in the Jim Carrey vehicle, Bruce Almighty. Two years later, she saw her eight-year stint as Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie come to an end when JAG was taken off the air. But she stayed busy with a role in 2005's Babak & Friends: A First Norooz.

Catherine is married to Adam Beason, whom she met on the set of Death Becomes Her, as he was the director's assistant. Catherine and her husband live near L.A. with their daughter Gemma and their two Italian greyhounds, Zoe and Leo. The stunning actress dedicates her free time to organizations like the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles and the Buoniconti Fund, and enjoys bungee jumping and riding motorcycles.

Studied for awhile at UCLA, and wanted to be either a surgeon or a biomedical engineer.

Has a heart tattoo with the word "love" inside of it on her right ankle.

She is fluent in the Persian language Farsi, as well as English.

Is very physically fit and loves all sports, particularly kick-boxing, skiing, and snowboarding.

When she was in her 20s, she had thyroid cancer and had to have her thyroid removed. She doesn't cover the scar on her neck because she thinks it's kind of cool.

Studies acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas.

She was selected #84 in year 2001, #38 in 2002, and #20 in the 2004 list of the FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World.

Was a contestant on "The Match Game" (1990) and introduced herself as Cathy Bell, a massage therapist. She won $900, but didn't make it to the final Super Match round. Was also a contestant on "To Tell the Truth" and introduced herself (an impostor) in the same manner. She and the other two stumped the entire panel for a winnings of $3000.

Before the 2001 NFL season began, in a survey of 70 celebrities who had nothing to do with football conducted by "The Sporting News," she correctly predicted that the New England Patriots would eventually beat the St. Louis Rams in the season-ending Super Bowl by the score of 20 to 17. This amazing prediction was made despite the fact that vast majority of "football experts" didn't think the Patriots would even make the playoffs much less get to the Super Bowl. She's the only person to have ever correctly predicted the participants in, winner, and final score of a Super Bowl before a season began in a published article in a major sports periodical or book.

Gave birth to a daughter, Gemma on 16 April 2003

Often plays roles in military movies. JAG, Black Thunder, Crash Drive, Men of War, An Officer and a Gentleman.

Signed on for a supporting role in the second half of the first season of "Threshold" (2005) and shot one episode before the show was canceled.

Named #75 on the Maxim magazine "Hot 100 of 2005" list.