A blonde, energetic newcomer who convincingly portrayed wealthy ice princess Nicole Julian on The WB series "Popular" (1999-2001) despite her own humble beginnings, Tammy Lynn Michaels was so determined to channel her interest in drama into a career that she convinced her single mother to drive her from their Indiana home to New York City following her high school graduation. Hoping to study at an acting conservatory, Michaels found herself struggling with jobs as a nanny and waitress when those plans fell through. While making ends meet, she was approached in a restaurant by an acting scout
