Emily Procter

Emily Mallory Procter (born October 8, 1968) is an American actress. She played Ainsley Hayes in the NBC political drama The West Wing (2000–2002; 2006) and Det. Calleigh Duquesne in the CBS police procedural drama CSI: Miami (2002–2012).

Early life

Procter was born on October 8, 1968. She was adopted as an infant by William Procter, a general practitioner, and Barbara Jones, a volunteer worker, and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was three years old when her parents divorced. She has an older brother, Whit, who is also adopted.

Procter is a graduate of Ravenscroft School in Raleigh. While at East Carolina University she became a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Before she received her degrees in journalism and dance at East Carolina, she was employed as a television weather anchor at WNCT-TV in Greenville, North Carolina.

Career

After Procter moved to Los Angeles, her father provided the funds for acting school for two years. Before even graduating, she had already landed a number of small roles in films such as Cameron Crowe's sports romantic comedy-drama Jerry Maguire (1996) and co-starred with David Schwimmer and Chris Cooper in the TV movie Breast Men (1997). In 1996, Procter guest-starred in the ABC superhero drama Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, where she played Lana Lang. She briefly appeared in the TV movie The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! (1997) as Mavis. She also appeared in the drama Body Shots (1999) as Whitney Bryant.

In 1995, Procter appeared in the NBC sitcom Friends in the second episode of the second season titled "The One with the Breast Milk", where she played Annabel, a brief love interest of Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc). From 2000 to 2002 and again in 2006, Procter had a recurring role in the NBC political drama The West Wing where she played Associate White House Counsel Ainsley Hayes.

Procter is friends with actress Jorja Fox, who starred as Sara Sidle in the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation from 2000 to 2015. Fox persuaded her to audition to star as Calleigh Duquesne in the first spin-off show CSI: Miami, which ran on CBS for 10 seasons from September 23, 2002 to April 8, 2012.

Procter participated in 2007's Live Earth by reading (with a number of other actresses) an essay written by Michelle Gardner-Quinn while Gardner-Quinn was a student at the University of Vermont.

In February 2013, Procter had a recurring role in the USA Network crime drama White Collar for the final two episodes of the fourth season. She played Amanda Callaway from Atlanta, who is promoted to head of the FBI's white collar crimes division in New York City.

Personal life

Procter has been in a relationship with musician Paul Bryan since 2008. On December 8, 2010, she gave birth to their daughter Philippa Frances (called "Pippa"). Her pregnancy was not written into the ninth season of CSI: Miami and her appearances on the show were limited for the entire season.

Procter has taken part in various triathlons and marathons. She is an avid poker player and has participated in at least one celebrity poker tournament. Procter also sings in a 1980s cover band formerly called White Lightning, which is now renamed Motion. Procter has volunteered with the Young Storytellers Program, and helps out at homeless shelters.

Procter's interests include interior decoration and antiques, putting this to practical use in the 1921 Spanish-style home that she owns in Los Angeles. During the 2007-2008 WGA strike, she designed a home for a friend in Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands. In People magazine's Country Special of March 2009, it was revealed she decorated Kenny Chesney's home in Malibu. She was also a guest judge on the Home & Garden Television show Summer Showdown. Procter served as the keynote speaker at the Spring 2019 commencement at her alma mater, East Carolina University.