n one of the first lines of defense of Homeland Security at Los Angeles International Airport, nothing gets past customs Officer Betty - played by actress Wendy Hoopes -- and her all-knowing and trusted partner Wally the drug-sniffing dog, on NBC's new drama series LAX.

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hoopes is the fourth of five girls who spent the early years of her childhood overseas and in Washington, D.C. After receiving her bachelor of arts degree in fine arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, she originated the role of Bee Bee in Eric Bogosian's acclaimed hit Suburbia at Lincoln Center.

Hoopes went on to help co-create the cable series Daria, which ran for six years on MTV where she provided the regular voices of Helen Morgendorffer, Jane Lane and Quinn Morgendorffer.

Hoopes' other television credits include the made-for-TV movie Never Give Up: The Jim Valvano Story, and various guest voices on the claymation spoof The Wrong Coast and animated Hey Joel. She made guest appearances on The Jury, NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NBC's Third Watch, Sex and the City, New York Undercover and Swift Justice.

Among Hoopes' theater credits is the role of Speaking Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway hit run of Love, Janis, a rock musical based on the letters and songs of Janis Joplin. Her other theater credits include Martha Clarke's acclaimed Vienna Lusthaus (Revisited) at New York Theater Workshop; Walking Off The Roof at the Signature Theater; Asylum, Sullied and LoveSoup, all with Naked Angels; Tom Stoppard's Arcadia at Arena Stage; and New York Stage and Film's Minutes from the Blue Route.

Hoopes starred in the independent feature "101 Waysf(The Things a Girl Will Do to Keep Her Volvo). Her other films include Better Living, Killing Cinderella, Calling Bobcat and Private Parts."

Credit: filmbug.com