CSI: NY

Background:

American actress Anna Belknap hit the big time when she landed the role of Det. Lindsay Monroe on the popular television drama series “CSI: NY” (2005-?). Recalling about how she got her role in the show, she stated, “Basically the way it works out here is that you get auditions and you go in. I knew Hill Harper was on the show. I can't remember if I talked to him about it before or after I went in to audition. I was actually auditioning for Numb3rs-they needed somebody new on that show--and I didn't wind up getting that and then they were like, “Well, what about CSI: New York? So I was like, “Great!” So I went in, and I think they videotaped it and sent it off to executive producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Anthony Zuiker, and then I got it.”

Prior to “CSI: NY,” Belknap had regular roles in the short lived series “The Handler” (CBS, 2003-2004) and “Medical Investigation” (NBC, 2004-2005) and recurring roles in “Deadline” (NBC, 2000-2001) and “Without a Trace” (2005). In addition, she guest starred in such series “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Jury” and “The Comeback.”

The alum of the American Conservatory Theater has appeared in the films “The Reality Trap” and “Alchemy” (both 2005).

On the stage, Mrs. Siegel is perhaps best known as the recipient of the 2002 San Diego Theater Critics Circle Craig Noel Award thanks to her work in Globe Theater's production of “Pericles.”

Belknap has been married to actor Eric Siegel since 2004. She is the mother of 2.

Maine Girl

Childhood and Family:

Anna C. Belknap was born on May 22, 1972, in Damariscotta, Maine. She graduated from Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Maine. She earned a B.A. from Middlebury College in Vermont and a Masters in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater.

In August 2004, Anna married actor Eric Siegel, a co worker from the Rude Mechanicals Theater Company. The couple welcomed a first child, daughter Cassie, on January 14, 2007. Their second child, son George, was born on February 6, 2009.

Anna had lived in New York City for five years when she relocated to Los Angeles in 2003. She enjoys hiking, camping and purging thrift stores for old furniture. She also loves yoga.

Pericles

Career:

Anna Belknap began her TV acting career in 1996 when she landed the small role of Julia Pfeiffer in the episode “Work Related” of the now defunct NBC police procedural series “Homicide: Life on the Street.” She reappeared three years later in episodes of “Law & Order,” playing Jessica Buehl, and “Trinity.” The same year, she also made her professional stage debut in the Sondheim musical “Do I Hear a Waltz?,” playing Jennifer Yeager.

Belknap received her first recurring role on the short lived NBC drama “Deadline” (2000-2001), starring Oliver Platt. She played a character named Chase in the series. She followed it up with guest spots in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “The Education of Max Bickford” (both 2001), where she portrayed Sarah Kimmel and Mimi Askew, respectively. In 2002, Belknap gained notice on stage with her award winning portrayal of Marina in William Shakespeare's “Pericles” at the Globe Theater. The role brought her a San Diego Theater Critics Circle Craig Noel Award in the category of Outstanding Performance.

Back to the small screen, Belknap made her debut as a regular cast when she got the role of Lily in the CBS crime series “The Handler,” created by Canadian writer/producer Chris Haddock. Starring Joe Pantoliano as FBI agent Joe Renato, who is assigned to train and handle rookie agents in the LAPD, the show ran for a season of 16 episodes from September 26, 2003 to January 30, 2004. Other cast members included Hill Harper, Lola Glaudini, and Tanya Wright.

After “The Handler” went off the air, Belknap made a guest appearance as Karen Linney in an episode of the Fox short lived drama “The Jury” (2004), whose main cast included Billy Burke, Adam Busch, Anna Friel, Cote de Pablo, Jeff Hephner, and Shalom Harlow. Later that same year, on September 9, she began her regular role of Eva Rossi on the NBC medical drama series “Medical Investigation,” opposite Neal McDonough, Kelli Williams, Christopher Gorham and Troy Winbush. After running for 20 episodes, the show was canceled in March 2005.

Belknap made her feature film acting debut in “The Reality Trap” (2005), a comedy/crime directed and written by Michael Bergmann. The film costarred Bonnie Loren, Kevin Stapleton, Tovah Feldshuh, David Hedison, Hedy Burress and Chris Conner and Josh Pais. She went on to play Marissa in Evan Oppenheimer's comedy/romance film, “Alchemy” (2005), starring Tom Cavanagh and Sarah Chalke.

Still in 2005, Belknap played the recurring role of Paige Hobson in two episodes of the CBS drama “Without a Trace” and had a one episode role in the HBO sitcom “The Comeback,” as Sara Peterman. However, it was not until the Maine native was cast in the well known spin off series “CSI: NY” that she enjoyed more permanent success. Playing Lindsay Monroe, a junior detective and Danny Messer's girlfriend, she made her debut performance in the show in the season 2, episode 3 “Zoo York,” broadcast on October 12, 2005. Commenting about her “CSI: NY” costar Gary Sinise, she said, “He's like a hero to actors because of Steppenwolf, which he founded right out of high school--that's like one of the premiere start-up theater companies in America. So he's really famous to all of us. It was great and just really cool to get to work with him. He's just so good!.”

Belknap, who was a member of NYC's Rude Mechanicals Theater Co., has tried to find time to return to stage. She has performed at Second Stage Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the Globe Theater, the Huntington Theatre, the Olney Theatre, the Westport Country Playhouse, Woolly Mammoth Theater, Breadloaf Theatre, and the Williamstown Theater Festival. She has appeared in the off Broadway production of “Metamorphoses” at Second Stage Theatre.

Awards:
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