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Reiko Aylesworth (born December 9, 1972) is a contemporary American actress. She is perhaps best known for her work on the television series 24.

Aylesworth was born in Chicago, Illinois of Dutch, Welsh, and Japanese ancestry. Beginning her career on the soap opera One Life to Live, she also had minor roles in Random Hearts, and You've Got Mail. After guest starring roles in Law and Order, Law and Order SVU, Now and Again, and The West Wing, Aylesworth was part of the 2001 series All Souls, which was cancelled during its first season. In 2002, Aylesworth joined the cast of another series, American Embassy which also failed to gain an audience.

In 2001, Aylesworth had auditioned for the part of Nina Myers on 24 but lost to Sarah Clarke. In 2002, she again auditioned for the role of Kate Warner, but lost to Sarah Wynter. The producers, however, asked her to join the cast as recurring character Michelle Dessler, a CTU agent.

Her character quickly developed a relationship with fellow agent Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), and became a firm fan favorite.

By the third season, Aylesworth had become a main cast member and, when the writers decided to have major cast changes at the end of that season, including the departure of her character, fan forums lit up with people asking for her to stay. In the twelfth episode of the fourth season, Aylesworth returned - Michelle now a high-ranking bureaucrat in the organization. She remained for the remainder of the fourth season, but the character was killed in the first moments of Season 5.

Aylesworth also had a much-publicized guest starring role on CSI which was initially rumored to be a regular role. However, after fired cast members Jorja Fox and George Eads were rehired, and with the offer to return to 24, Aylesworth's role lasted only one episode.

Since her departure from "24", Aylesworth has guest stared on the short lived series Conviction, appeared on stage in The Fearless, and filmed a supporting role in Kevin Costner’s Mr. Brooks.

After 24, she originally had been cast as Dr. Adrienne Holland in the series 3 lbs but the show was not picked up at the time. When CBS finally decided to pick up the series for a late fall-2006 start, the leading roles were all recast. It is not known if Aylesworth simply declined to star in the new series due to commitments elsewhere or if she was not offered the role again.

On 25 September, 2006 it was announced that Aylesworth was chosen for one of the two lead roles in Alien vs. Predator 2. She has been cast as Kelly O'Brien, a pilot and soldier. Most sources say Alien vs. Predator 2 is set to hit theaters sometime in late 2007.

Trivia

• She is ¼ Japanese.

• Her first name is pronounced "Ray-co," which means "child of thankfulness" or "child of gratitude."

• Has an extensive background in theater.

• Her 1992-1993 role in Peter Pan (Playing Wendy) at the Intiman Theatre Company in Seattle, Washington helped her gain an audition and eventually her first television role in One Life to Live.

• Is extremely good at pool.

• Was born in the same Chicago hospital as her 24 costar, friend, and onscreen husband, Carlos Bernard.

• Has remained friends with Bernard even after their roles on 24 concluded.

• Has appeared in numerous episodes and movies with fellow 24 regulars and guest stars although not always on screen with them. This includes Xander Berkeley in Magma: Volcanic Disaster and The Last Full Measure, Paul Schulze, JoBeth Williams, John Terry, Michael Hyatt, and Tom Kiesche in Crazylove, Eric Balfour in Conviction, Devika Parikh in an episode of The West Wing, Now and Again with Dennis Haysbert, Random Hearts with Dennis Haysbert and Kate Mara, and Man on the Moon with Mary Lynn Rajskub.

Filmography and television

External links

• The Many Faces of Reiko Aylesworth (Tribute)
• BBC Drama Faces - Reiko Aylesworth

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