Morena Baccarin

Like many performers of international heritage, Italian-Brazilian actress Morena Baccarin found herself frequently cast as exotic figures rather than real people; she was an interstellar courtesan on Joss Whedon's "Serenity" (Fox, 2002) and alluring but deadly aliens on "Stargate SG-1" (Showtime/SyFy, 2001-07) and "V" (ABC, 2009-2011). These and other similar roles gave Baccarin a fan base built primarily around her physical appeal, but after nearly a decade of hard work in episodic television, the actress landed her breakout role as a POW's wife on "Homeland" (Showtime, 2011- ). The critically acclaimed drama offered a stellar display of Baccarin's acting ability in her difficult role as a woman who, after having grieved and moved on following the death of her soldier husband, was faced with rebuilding her life again after his rescue from an Al Qaeda prison. The critical acclaim that followed her sympathetic turn was ample proof that Morena Baccarin's best work was yet to be seen.