Free Women's Blog

Patricia Helen Heaton (born on March 4, 1958) is an American actress mostly known for her role as Debra Barone on the TV sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. She returned to TV sitcom in 2007 with the comedy series Back to You, but was called off in 2008, while currently she plays in the comedy series The Middle.

Heaton was born in Bay Village, Ohio and has three sisters and one brother. She attended Ohio State University graduating with a B.A. in drama. Heaton relocated to New York City in 1980 to study with drama teacher William Esper.

Heaton debuted on Broadway in the chorus of the Don’t Get God Started in 1987. Later on she and fellow students founded Stage Three, an off-Broadway acting group. Heaton returned to theater in January 2007 in the play The Scene at Second Stage Theater in New York City. Her performance earned Heaton a Lucille Lortel Awards nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actress category.

While performing at Los Angeles with Stage Three Heaton impressed a casting director for the drama ‘thirtysomething’ and was cast as an oncologist with six appearances from 1989-1991. She also guest starred on television in such production as Alien Nation – 1989, Matlock – 1990, Party of Five – 1996, The King of Queens – 1999 or Danny Phantom – 2004.

Heaton appeared in three sitcoms – Room for Two (1992), Someone Like Me (1994), Women of the House (1995) – prior of being cast as Debra Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond. Her performance in the series earned Heaton Emmy Award nominations in each last seven seasons in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category, winning the award two times. She also garnered two Viewers For Quality Television Award and a Screen Actors Guild award for her performance in the series.
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Jessica Claire Biel (born on March 3, 1982) is an American actress and ex-model, who appeared in numerous Hollywood films, being also famous for the role of Mary Camden in the family-drama series 7th Heaven.

Biel was born in Ely, Minnesota having a younger brother, James. She was first trained to be a vocalist, appearing in some musicals in her hometown. When she was 12, Biel participated to The International Modeling and Talent Association Conference in Los Angeles where she was signed on by a talent agency. At 14 Biel was given the role of Mary Camden in the family drama, 7th Heaven that would last for 11 seasons, being the longest running family drama in the history of US television.

Her first feature film role in Ulee’s Gold (1997) earned her a Young Artist Award. In 2000, Biel was complaining that her role in 7th Heaven gave her a righteous image, that prevented her of obtaining a role in American Beauty, and attempted to leave the series but finally she remained till her contract expired.

At the end of the sixth season of 7th heaven, Biel got the role of the lead heroine in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, film that became a major success. In 2003, Biel started working on Blade Trinity followed by the shoot of the thriller Stealth, both movies ending up box office failures.

Her role in the film The Illusionist would be a turning point in her acting career, winning the Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and an Achievement Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival for her performance.
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