Cynthia Michele Watros is an American actress recognized for her roles in both daytime and primetime television. In 1994, she was cast in the regular role of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light, which earned her the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1998. In 2002, she was cast as Kellie on The Drew Carey Show and in 2005 joined the cast of Lost as Libby Smith. Since 2019, Watros has portrayed the role of Nina Reeves on ABC's General Hospital, for which she earned further Daytime Emmy Award nominations.

Early life Watros was born in Lake Orion, Michigan. She attended Macomb Community College in Clinton Township, Michigan, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre from Boston University, where she was part of the Professional Actors Training Program.

Career Watros initially became known for her role as Annie Dutton on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light from 1994 to 1998. Her character, a nurse, began as a heroine, but she gained notice and critical acclaim as her character gradually descended into madness. In 1998, Watros won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role on Guiding Light. In 1998, she briefly filled in for Jensen Buchanan as Victoria Hudson McKinnon on Another World while Buchanan was on maternity leave.

Watros appeared as Erin Fitzpatrick on Titus from 2000 to 2002 and gained recognition as a comedic actress, playing the fiancée of the title character. According to the DVD commentary, Erin was intended to be neurotic and socially awkward, but the character was revised a week before the pilot was shot. After Titus was canceled, she took on the role of Kellie Newmark on The Drew Carey Show, as a replacement for Christa Miller. Watros played the role from 2002 to 2004.

From 2005 to 2006, Watros was a cast member on the ABC series Lost, playing psychologist Libby, a member of the "Tailies", a group of survivors of the plane crash who were in the tail section of the plane (and not seen during Season One). She was a romantic interest to Hurley and was very mysterious showing up in flashbacks.

After her departure from Lost in 2006, Watros filmed a pilot for a show titled My Ex-Life for CBS. She was slated to play the ex-wife of a character played by Tom Cavanagh. However, the pilot was not chosen by CBS. Watros was also the lead in the 2007 CBS television pilot for The Rich Inner Life of Penelope Cloud, a comedy about a former literary genius who, after an awakening, decides to pursue optimism instead of cynicism.

In 2009, Watros filmed a pilot for Valley Girls, a spin-off of the CW series Gossip Girl set in the 1980s, in which she played CeCe Rhodes, the socialite ex-wife of Rick Rhodes, and mother of the series' protagonists. In a May 2009 episode of the USA series In Plain Sight, "A Stand-Up Triple", she guest starred as a mother of three children in the witness protection program. Beginning in April 2010, Watros joined the cast of the TV medical drama House for seven episodes as Samantha Carr, one of Dr. James Wilson's ex-wives.

Watros appeared in the 2012 indie film, Electrick Children. In May 2012, she guest-starred in episode 8.22 of Grey's Anatomy. In June 2013, she guest-starred in episode 4.17 of Warehouse 13. She played Mary Matrix, coach of the FPS Varsity team in the online series Video Game High School. Her character first appears in season two of the series, which started July 2013. Watros starred as Avery Jenning's self-obsessed aunt in Dog with a Blog on December 6, 2013.

In 2013, Watros joined the cast of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, but left the show in early 2014; the character was recast. In July 2014, she joined the cast of the MTV series Finding Carter.

In 2019, Watros joined the cast of General Hospital as Nina Reeves, taking over the role from actress Michelle Stafford, who departed the role to return to the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless.

Watros also made a guest appearance in the digital drama series Misguided, playing a waitress named Anne, a nod to her role as Annie Dutton on Guiding Light.

Personal life Watros was married to Curtis Gilliland from 1996 to 2020. They have twin daughters, born in 2001.

In 2005, Watros was arrested in Kailua for allegedly driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

In 2008, Watros participated in a USO tour to Iraq, visiting several bases, including COP Callahan in Baghdad's East Adamiyah area.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1995Cafe SocietyDianna Harris1997His & HersPam2000Mercy StreetsSam2001The Yellow BirdAlma TutwilerShort film2002P.S. Your Cat Is DeadKate2004Duane IncarnateConnie2005Just PrayPerry Ann LewisShort film2007FrankJennifer York2008American CrudeJane2009Calvin MarshallKaren2010MarsAllison Guthrie2012Electrick ChildrenGay Lynn2012Fatal JusticeKaren2013Park CityNina2014Blood and CircumstanceMrs. Stabler2017Special UnitTara Small

Television Year Title Role Notes1994New York UndercoverReporterEpisode: "Missing"1994–1998Guiding LightAnnie Dutton / DeeSeries regular1997Spin CityGayleyEpisode: "Striptease"1998Another WorldVicky Hudson9 episodes1998ProfilerHelen Jefferies Episode: "Perfect Helen"2000–2002, 2020TitusErin FitzpatrickMain role, 54 episodes + 2 revival2002A Nero Wolfe MysteryPhoebe Gunther"The Silent Speaker"2002–2004The Drew Carey ShowKellie NewmarkMain role (Season 8–9), 52 episodes2005Washington StreetMaggieMovie2005–2007, 2010LostElizabeth "Libby" SmithMain role (Season 2, "The End"); Guest star (Season 4, 6) - 24 episodes2007Avenging AngelMaggieMovie2007RainesSarah CarverEpisode: "Closure"2007Law & Order: Criminal IntentBeth HoyleEpisode: "Offense"2008Fear ItselfMeredith KaneEpisode: "Spooked"2008The Bill Engvall ShowAJEpisodes: "Susan's Best Friend"/"Bill Talks a Good Game"/"Snoop, Dog"2009Family GuySecurity System VoiceEpisode: "Ocean's Three and a Half"2009In Plain SightMaureen Stewart / Maureen SullivanEpisode: "A Stand-Up Triple"2009Gossip GirlYoung Celia RhodesEpisode: "Valley Girls"2009CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationBarbie AubreyEpisode: "All In"2009The CloserRobin MilanoEpisode: "Identity Theft"2009Criminal MindsHeather VanderwaalEpisode: "Reckoner"2009Men of a Certain AgeEricaEpisode: "Mind's Eye"2010The Secret Life of the American TeenagerNickyEpisode: "The Second Time Around"2010HouseSam Carr7 episodes2010Desperate HousewivesTracy MillerEpisode: "Pleasant Little Kingdom"2012A Smile as Big as the MoonDr. Deborah BarnhartMovie2012RetributionKarenMovie2012Grey's AnatomyLiz ConnorEpisode: "Let the Bad Times Roll"2012Hawaii Five-0Katie BurgessEpisode: "Lana I Ka Moana"2013Cynthia Watros Gets LostAs herself4 pilot episodes on YouTube 2013Warehouse 13Janice MalloyEpisode: "What Matters Most"2013–2014Video Game High SchoolMary Matrix12 episodes2013Dog with a BlogAunt SigourneyEpisode: "Twas the Flight Before Christmas"2013–2014The Young and the RestlessKelly AndrewsRecurring role2014–2015Finding CarterElizabeth WilsonMain role2015Stolen from the SuburbsKatherineMovie2017Washed AwayMovie2017Deadly ExchangeDetective HardyMovie2019MisguidedAnneGuest Star, 2 Episodes 2019–present General Hospital Nina Reeves Regular role

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref.1998 Daytime Emmy AwardOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Guiding Light 1998 Soap Opera Digest AwardOutstanding Villainess in a Drama Series – Daytime Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Lost Indie Series Award Best Guest Actress - DramaMisguided Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital

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