After graduating from the classical-acting program at Juilliard, Cross alternated between stage and small-screen parts before hitting it big as a psychotic doctor on the campy '90s prime-time soap Melrose Place. During her tenure on the show, Cross endured personal turmoil when actor Richard Jordan, her longtime companion, died. After leaving the series in 1997, the actress took some time away from Hollywood in order to earn a Master's in psychology. In the early 2000s, she followed up a string of guest-starring spots with a role on the WB's beloved Everwood and then as a perfectionist homemaker on Desperate Housewives. The plumb role of playing Bree Van De Camp on ABC's mega-hit earned Cross her first Emmy nod in 2005. In June 2006, she married financial adviser Tom Mahoney, and the pair welcomed twin girls in February 2007. In her spare time, Cross supports several charities and continues pursuing her passion for psychology.