Mary Margaret Helgenberger was born on November 16, 1958 in Fremont, Nebraska. She is an Emmy and Golden Globe nominated American film and television actress.

She attended Kearney State College and transferred to Northwestern Alumnus School of Speech, Evanston, IL. Marg majored in Speech and Drama. She caught the acting bug the when she landed role of Blanche Dubois in a university production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

A scout for Ryan's Hope discovered Marg when she performed in an NU campus production of Shakespeare'sTaming of the Shrew as Kate, summer of 1981. The scout offered Marg a possible role on Ryan's Hope and Marg wanted to finish college first. So she promised to check back with Marg and she did. Hence, her first professional acting role as the charactor Siobhan Ryan.

In 1984 she met Alan Rosenberg a guest actor portraying a pimp on RH. She thought he was handsome and they started dating in 1986. They married in 1989 and have one son Hughie named after Marg's father, Hugh Helgenberger.

Marg's work as been honored by receiving The Q Award three years consectively, 89, 90 and 91 for Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series, China Beach. In 1990 she won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, China Beach. She was also nominated for an Emmy in 91 and 92 respectively for China Beach. She was Emmy nominated for her work as Catherine Willows on Crime Scene Investigation Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (2000).

Her last credits include In Good Company (2004) and Mr. Brooks (2007).

Filmography

• Columbus Day (2008)
• Conan: Red Nails (2007)
• "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (171 episodes, 2000-2007)
• Mr. Brooks (2007)
• Bunco World Championships (2006)
• In Good Company (2004)
• "King of the Hill" (1 episode, 2004)
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Dark Motives (2004)
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2003)
• "CSI: Miami" (1 episode, 2002)
• Erin Brockovich (2000)
• Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder (2000)
• "Frasier" (1 episode, 2000)
• Lethal Vows (1999)
• Happy Face Murders (1999)
• "Partners" (1 episode, 1999)
• Giving Up the Ghost (1998)
• Thanks of a Grateful Nation (1998)
• Species II (1998)
• Gold Coast (1997)
• Fire Down Below (1997)
• The Last Time I Committed Suicide (1997)
• Murder Live! (1997)
• My Fellow Americans (1996)
• "ER" (5 episodes, 1996)
• Conundrum (1996)
• Inflammable (1995)
• "The Larry Sanders Show" (1 episode, 1995)
• Species (1995)
• Bad Boys (1995)
• Just Looking (1995)
• Where Are My Children? (1994)
• Lie Down with Lions (1994)
• The Cowboy Way (1994)
• Keys (1994)
• Blind Vengeance (1994)
• "Fallen Angels" (1 episode, 1993)
• When Love Kills: The Seduction of John Hearn (1993)
• Distant Cousins (1993)
• The Tommyknockers (1993)
• Partners (1993)
• Through the Eyes of a Killer (1992)
• In Sickness and in Health (1992)
• "The Hidden Room" (1 episode, 1991)
• "Tales from the Crypt" (1 episode, 1991)
• "China Beach" (62 episodes, 1988-1991)
• Death Dreams (1991)
• Crooked Hearts (1991)
• Blind Vengeance (1990)
• Always (1989)
• After Midnight (1989)
• "thirtysomething" (1 episode, 1987)
• "Matlock" (1 episode, 1987)
• "Shell Game" (6 episodes, 1987)
• "Spenser: For Hire" (1 episode, 1986)
• "Ryan's Hope" (20 episodes, 1982-1986)

Awards

• People's Choice Award Favorite Female Television Star 2005
• Blockbuster Award Nomination Best Supporting Actress in a Drama "Erin Brockovich" 2001
• Viewers for Quality Television Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama "China Beach" 1990
• Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series "China Beach" 1989 - 1990