Kyra Sedgwick

Having enjoyed a steady career in film and on television for nearly two decades, actress Kyra Sedgwick rose to household name status as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on the crime drama series "The Closer" (TNT, 2005-2012). Prior to that Emmy-winning role, Sedgwick made her mark primarily in features like "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge" (1990), and "Pyrates" (1991), which co-starred husband Kevin Bacon, whom she had married in 1988 and remained one of the rare lasting unions in Hollywood. Meanwhile, she had a consistent presence on the big screen with films like "Singles" (1992), "Something to Talk About" (1995), "Phenomenon" (1996) and "What's Cooking?" (2000). Sedgwick enjoyed praise from critics for her thoughtful, focused presence in much-coveted roles of smart, complex women. In 2005, she continued along that same tract with her portrayal of Brenda Johnson on "The Closer," an intelligent workaholic detective transferred from Georgia to Los Angeles, where her folksy and idiosyncratic demeanor fail to mesh with her fellow big city cops. The acclaimed role elevated Sedgwick's profile while allowing her to remain dedicated to projects rooted in substance and depth, rather than studio glitz and box office receipts.