Michelle Forbes is an American actress, born Michelle Renee Forbes Guajardo on January 8, 1965, in Austin, Texas. She initially pursued ballet but later trained in acting at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston.

     Forbes gained early recognition for her dual role as Sonni Carrera Lewis in Guiding Light, earning a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. She later became known for playing Ensign Ro Laren, a rebellious Bajoran Starfleet officer, in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991–1994). Ro was a fan-favorite character, and Forbes was invited to reprise the role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but she declined. She later returned to Star Trek in Star Trek: Picard (2023), reprising Ro Laren in a pivotal storyline.

     Beyond Star Trek, Forbes starred in Homicide: Life on the Street (1996–1998) as Dr. Julianna Cox, and had recurring roles in Battlestar Galactica, 24, Prison Break, True Blood, and The Killing, the latter earning her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She has also appeared in films such as Kalifornia (1993), Swimming with Sharks (1994), and Escape from L.A. (1996).