That was Melinda McGraw describing her character MacKenzie Rutledge, a quirky unemployed career woman on the now defunct The Pursuit of Happiness.

Melinda McGraw was born in Nicosia, Cyprus on October 25. Her father served as a diplomat for the Agency of International Development under the Kennedy Administration. Melinda lived in Beirut and Pakistan before her family relocated to the United States when she was four. McGraw then grew up in Dover and Cambridge, MA, where she began her career with the Boston Children's theater.

After two years of studying at Bennington College, McGraw auditioned for and was accepted by London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. For the next several years she lived in London where she appeared in several theater productions including "Twelfth Night", "El Cid", "The Foreigner", and "The Mask of Moriarty".

Since returning to the United States five years ago, McGraw has worked steadily in television. Most recently, she appeared as Cyd Madison on "The Commish", Rebecca Travis on "The Human Factor" and in the recurring role of Melissa Scully on "The X-Files." Her television credits include appearing in PBS's American Playhouse production of "The Big Knife" and guest starring in "Quantum Leap", "Seinfeld" and "Night Court".

Also active in Los Angeles theater, McGraw continues to study acting in the Beverly Hills Playhouse. In 1993, she produced Ellen McLaughlin's "Days and Nights Within" at the Whitefire Theater in Los Angeles, which won Drama-logue Awards in the "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" categories.

McGraw currently resides in Los Angeles and enjoys hiking, horseback riding, and most outdoor activities in her spare time. She also sings, plays the saxophone, speaks numerous dialects and is certified in stage combat by the British Society of Fight Directors.

If you'd like to write to Melinda, you can contact her at the following address: