Jessica Hecht

This comely comic actress gained prominence in the recurring role as the lesbian lover of the ex-wife of Ross (David Schwimmer) on the NBC sitcom "Friends" (1995- ). Hecht honed her skills on the stage in off-Broadway and regional productions before hitting her stride on the small screen. Her performance on "Friends" led to her being cast in the ensemble of "The Single Guy" (NBC, 1995-96). As Janeane, the longtime friend of the title character played by Jonathan Silverman, Hecht delivered a deft portrayal of a former free-spirit, now married, who lives vicariously through her friends. The role, however, was short-lived; producers found her character too settled and released the actress and her onscreen husband (Mark Moses) at the end of the show's first season.