Raised in rural Nelson County, Virginia

Moved with family to Richmond, Virginia at age 14

At age 16, entered an Oprah Winfrey sponsored model search; was chosen as a finalist and appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (ABC); won the competition and signed a contract with Elite Agency

Moved to NYC to pursue modeling; also studied acting for three years

Feature debut as an NBC Tour Guide in the Howard Stern biopic "Private Parts"

Guest starred on episodes of NBC's "Fired Up" and "Just Shoot Me"

Starred on the USA Network series "The Big Easy"

Cast on the short-lived "Walker, Texas Ranger" spin-off "Sons of Thunder" (CBS)

Appeared in the touching independent comedy feature "This Space Between Us"

Played a cheerleader who strives to maintain a perfect image on the WB series, "Popular"

Featured opposite Joshua Jackson in "The Skulls," a college thriller about a Yale secret society

Co-starred as a young mother in the feature comedy "See Spot Run"

Had a recurring role on the NBC medical drama, "ER"

Joined the cast of long-running crime drama "Crossing Jordan" (NBC) as Detective Lu Simmons

Cast as Will Ferrell's wife in the comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"

Co-starred with Patrick Fugit in the controversal indie film, "Wristcutters: A Love Story"

Cast in Daniel Waters' "Sex and Death 101" opposite Simon Baker and Winona Ryder