Fans of sci-fi teen drama Roswell know Shiri Appleby as the insatiably curious Liz Parker, but nowadays the former TV waitress is catering to reality stars on Lifetime’s UnREAL. Appleby, who will be speaking at the BlogHer conference, hasn’t slowed her roll in between playing Liz and the Everlasting producer Rachel — here’s what she’s been up to since her days as a teen star!
TV movies galore
Appleby signed on for several TV movies after Roswell ended in 2002. In 2004, she appeared in the TV flick Darklight, about a popular Jewish myth, which aired on the then-called Sci Fi Channel. In 2005, Appleby appeared in romantic comedy Pizza My Heart, a re-telling of the Romeo & Juliet story with dueling pizza parlors as the focus, as well as Everything You Want, opposite Nick Zano. She then appeared in Lifetime film Thrill Of The Kill, a crime story that could have foreshadowed at her career-highlight role on Lifetime’s UnREAL.
Another Lifetime venture
Before starring in UnREAL, Appleby was cast in another Lifetime property — this time, a TV movie. The crime drama Thrill Of The Kill starred Appleby as a woman desperate to find out what really happened to her missing sister.
‘Six Degrees’
Appleby appeared as Anya in six episodes of the short-lived ABC series Six Degrees, which came on before Grey’s Anatomy in 2006. Though Grey’s Anatomy is still going strong, Six Degrees was canceled before the end of 2007, and five episodes were left unaired.
Playing doctor
Appleby slapped on a lab coat in 2008 to play Dr. Daria Wade in nine episodes of ER.
As unexpected twist
One of Appleby’s best-known roles is for her CW family drama Life Unexpected, which starred Appleby as a teen mother who reunites with the daughter she gave up for adoption. The series was canceled after two seasons in 2011.
A ‘Very Merry Christmas’ movie
This 2013 Lifetime Christmas flick was done shortly before Appleby became Rachel on UnREAL. In this movie, Appleby’s character Kristin has the chance to go back in time and “mentor” her younger self in order to change her not-so-fantastic Christmas past. Controlling the actions of other people? Sounds like classic Rachel to us.
Making heat
Appleby had a recurring role on Chicago Fire as Shay’s ex-girlfriend, who just so happens to be pregnant and married. The role lasted six episodes across 2012 and 2013.
‘Girls’ time
If you shipped Adam and Hanna on Girls, then you were likely bummed when Adam received a new girlfriend named Natalia — played by Appleby — during the show’s second season in 2013.
‘UnREAL’ drama
Not only does Appleby star as a manipulative, cutthroat reality producer on UnREAL, she also picked up another title on the series — director! Appleby directed Season 2 episode “Casualty,” proving she’s as much of a boss as Rachel is.
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