Nicollette Sheridan (born November 21, 1963) is a British-born American actress. She has appeared in soap operas, movies and television series, and is perhaps best known for her roles as Paige Matheson on Knots Landing and as Edie Britt on Desperate Housewives.

Biography

Nicollette was born Colette Nicollette in Rustington, West Sussex, England, the daughter of British actress Sally Nicollette (née Adams). She is of Punjabi Indian descent through her maternal side. Contrary to rumour, Nicollette is not related to actress Dinah Sheridan. Sheridan's biological father has never been identified. However, Nicollette has said that she considers her mother's late ex-boyfriend, actor Telly Savalas, to be her father (and not stepfather). Sheridan's half-brother, Nick Savalas, is his son. Nicollette attended school at Millfield in Somerset and emigrated to the United States in 1973.

Nicollette made her debut in the short-lived US primetime soap opera Paper Dolls in 1984, but her breakthrough came in 1986, when she joined the cast of the CBS primetime soap Knots Landing as "Paige Matheson". She started out in a recurring role, but proved to be so popular that she was a series regular by the 1988-89 season. For her performance in the role, she won the 1990 Soap Opera Digest Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress: Prime Time" and the 1991 Soap Opera Digest Award for "Outstanding Heroine: Prime Time". The same year, she was named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People". After the series ended in 1993, she appeared in several made-for-TV movies and the films Spy Hard and Beverly Hills Ninja and auditioned for the role of Grace Adler on Will & Grace (on which she would later guest-star). Despite her carefully cultivated sex symbol image, Nicollette has only done one nude scene during her career, in the low budget 1999 film Raw Nerve, opposite Mario Van Peebles.

In 2004, Sheridan's role as sexy divorcee Edie Britt in ABC's Desperate Housewives brought her renewed media attention. She was nominated for a 2005 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and was named #48 on Maxim's 2006 List. Less positively, she was named 2004's "worst dressed" by Mr. Blackwell. Blackwell's citation probably resulted from the colourful and boldly-cut gown Nicollette wore as a presenter at the American Music Awards on November 14, 2004 but he had earlier (TV Guide, July 22, 1989) praised her fashion sense: "daring ... with her panache, she brings it off without a hitch. For the adventurer in all of us, she's the one to watch".

On November 15, 2004, Nicollette was cited by the FCC for her appearance in a sketch that opened the evening's Monday Night Football broadcast. The Desperate Housewives-inspired sketch, showing Nicollette dropping a towel to attract the attention of football player Terrell Owens who then said "Ah, hell", was widely condemned as being sexually suggestive. ABC was forced to apologize for airing it, but the citation against Nicollette was dropped on March 14, 2005. On November 22, 2004, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) aired a controversial parody showing WWE Diva Trish Stratus dropping her towel to attract WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin, but being caught in the act by the company's chairman, Vince McMahon.

Todd Schnitt of radio station WFLZ-FM in Tampa, Florida, placed an early-morning telephone call to Nicollette on November 18, 2004, waking her to discuss the Monday Night Football controversy (which had come to be called "Towelgate"). On January 30, 2007, the FCC levied a $10,000 fine because the station violated regulations in failing to inform Nicollette that the interview was being broadcast.

Toward the close of the fourth season of Desperate Housewives, conflicting reports circulated regarding Sheridan's future in her role. While Hollywood.com reported in April that series creator Marc Cherry had said Nicollette would depart at the end of the season, another source stated that Nicollette was confident she would return for the series' fifth season. By May 4, Entertainment Weekly reported that Nicollette would likely make several appearances in the upcoming season, but not necessarily as a regular cast member.

Actress Dana Delany, who plays Katherine Mayfair, confirmed that Nicollette Nicollette would be back to reprise her role for Season 5 of Desperate Housewives, and the Hollywood Reporter reported Nicollette's character might be seducing another boyfriend, played by actor Neal McDonough.

When season five aired, Nicollette did indeed reprise her regular role as Edie, now married to McDonough's character.

In February 2009 Nicollette announced she will be leaving Desperate Housewives at the end of the season. Her final episode will be in April 2009. And according to E! Online Sheridan's character Edie Britt will be killed off the show. "If there are no script changes, Edie will die before the season ends. She will find out that Dave plans to kill her. When he tries to, Edie escapes only to get involved in an accident that involves her car and an electrical wire."

Actress Dana Delany, who plays Katherine Mayfair, confirmed that there will be some shocking drama when Nicollette Sheridan leaves the show.

According to Dana Delany, a party is the best way to say farewell to Nicollette Sheridan.

According to Felicity Huffman, who plays Lynette Scavo, her comment on Nicollette Sheridan's departure was very shocking.

According to Dana Delany, Monday, March 9, 2009 was Nicollette's last day of work on Wisteria Lane.

According to TV Guide, the decision to kill off Sheridan's character, Edie, was very risky.

On Saturday, April 18th, the cast and crew of Desperate Housewives gathered to bid farewell to Nicollette Sheridan.

According to Nicollette Sheridan, her character, Edie Britt, died just like she had lived, as the complete and utter center of attention.

From 1979 to 1985, Nicollette dated the then teen-idol Leif Garrett. They began dating when she was still about 15 and lived with him in his mother's home while still an underage (minor). As an adult, Nicollette was involved in an unsuccessful attempt to end Garrett's drug abuse.

Nicollette was married to actor Harry Hamlin from September 7, 1991 through 1993.

From January to October 2005, Nicollette was engaged to Swedish personal trainer, Nicklas Söderblom. After their break-up, Nicollette returned to ex-boyfriend Michael Bolton, to whom she became engaged in March 2006. Nicollette was reportedly pregnant with his child but both of them have denied these rumours.

In 2006 Nicollette Sheridan and Michael Bolton sang a duet titled The Second Time Around for the album Bolton Swings Sinatra.

In March 2008 Nicollette Sheridan posed naked for a London Fog charity ad which also featured Nicollette's fiancé, Michael Bolton.

On March 25, 2008 Nicollette Sheridan settled a lawsuit brought by a former manager who alleged that he was fired by the actress to avoid paying a commission.

It was confirmed on August 26, 2008 that Michael and Nicollette had broken their engagement.

April 2009: Nicollette Sheridan has a new love in her life: Steve Pate.

This Nicollette Sheridan Biography Page is Copyright © 2004 - 2009 Chuck Ayoub