Detailed Biography

Tammy Lynn Michaels , also known by the surname Etheridge after marrying Melissa Etheridge, is an American actress.

Michaels was a regular cast member on the Warner Brothers Network television show Popular and guest-starred on the Showtime drama The L Word.

Biography

Career

Michaels developed a passion for acting in junior high school and after graduating moved to New York to pursue it. She attended AMDA and completed three semesters but suffered a leg injury and withdrew from the school before graduation. While working as a bartender at a restaurant she was discovered by Alayne Skylar, a talent scout.

After moving to Los Angeles, Michaels landed the role of Nicole Julian on Popular.

In 2002, Michaels guest-starred on the Fox show That '80s Show, followed by a guest appearance in 2004 on the Showtime drama the The L Word. In 2005, she played the character Tess on the NBC series Committed.

In 2003, Michaels played the role of Max in the short-film D.E.B.S. The film received several awards and was later expanded to a feature-length film of the same name and released in 2004. However, most of the short-film actresses in the original D.E.B.S. were replaced for the expanded version, including Michaels.

After taking a break from acting to concentrate on parenthood, Michaels is returning the big screen as a lead in the lesbian romantic comedy Nicest Thing. The film is slated to begin shooting in Spring 2010 and is to be directed by Amanda Bearse.

Personal life

Michaels is openly gay and a well-known lesbian figure. She married rock singer Melissa Etheridge on September 20, 2003. In April 2006, the couple announced that Michaels was pregnant with twins via an anonymous sperm donor. Michaels gave birth to son Miller Steven and daughter Johnnie Rose on October 17, 2006. She has two stepchildren, born to Etheridge's ex-partner during their relationship; daughter Bailey and son Becket, whose biological sperm was from David Crosby of the Byrds and CSN&Y.

Since 2005, Michaels has kept a weblog, in which she discusses politics, current events and her personal life.