Tawny Cypress

With exotic, multiracial looks and a sophisticated air, this up-and-coming actress tends to play educated, intellectual professionals, like professors (All My Children) and lawyers (Third Watch). But it was her stint as a bohemian art dealer on Heroes that turned her into a hot commodity. It's fitting that Cypress had her breakthrough with the comic-book-like series considering the fact that her brother, Toby, is a successful illustrator. When she originally auditioned for the sci-fi show, she read for Niki, a role that ultimately went to Ali Larter. But series creator Tim Kring was so impressed with Cypress' talents that he offered her the part of Simone, even though it had originally been written for a Caucasian actress. Unfortunately, despite being a sultry presence and the focus of a tense love triangle, her character was never properly developed and she was killed off during the first season.