Melanie Nicholls-King

While Melanie Nicholls-King has guest-starred on dozens of hit TV series since the mid-1990s, including several versions of "Law & Order" and the firefighter drama "Third Watch," she is lucky enough to consider her supporting role as Cheryl in HBO's critical darling "The Wire" as her most recognized performance. She kicked off her acting career in the acclaimed theater company Sugar'n'Spice, which she founded with two friends.

In addition to her small-screen roles, including the headstrong police officer Noelle Williams in the hit Canadian cop series "Rookie Blue," Nicholls-King co-starred in the 2007 Sundance hit "How She Move," starring "True Blood"'s Rutina Wesley.