Francie Swift

With her delicate features, especially her oh-so-expressive eyes, Francie Swift brought unexpected dimension to what could have been one-note roles, such as an ingratiating image consultant on the hit drama "The Good Wife" (CBS 2009-16). Swift started her career with brief appearances in films like "Scent of a Woman" (1992) starring Al Pacino, but her breakthrough was a made-for-TV adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" (A&E 2000), in which she played Jordan Baker. The film is not considered among the more glamorous versions of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel; however, it paved the way for bigger television roles. Swift was part of the repertory for the highly unusual "A Nero Wolfe Mystery" (A&E 2001-02), starring Maury Chaykin as private detective Nero Wolfe and Timothy Hutton as his henchman Archie Goodwin, in which most of the other actors played different roles in every episode. Swift's star continued to rise with recurring parts in "Gossip Girl" (The CW 2007-12) and "The Good Wife." In the former, she played Anne Archibald, the socialite mother of protagonist Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford), whose troubled relationship with his father tested her loyalties. Meanwhile, her character in "The Good Wife," combative lawyer Kya Poole, made a strong impression on critics and audiences though her arc on the series lasted for only five episodes. Swift next appeared in a recurring role on "Law & Order: SVU" (NBC 1999-), playing coolly intelligent and aloof assistant district attorney Sherri West.