Background
Forester was born Nicole Theresa Schmidt in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Forester was born Nicole Theresa Schmidt in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1993, when she took Forester, her grandmother"s maiden name, as her professional name.
She is best known for her role as "Maggie Zajac" on the Starz original series Boss and as "Cassie Layne Winslow" on Guiding Light. She currently appears as "Christie" on National Broadcasting Company"s Chicago Fire. She began dance training at the age of five and began working locally in professional musical theatre at the age of twelve.
She majored in drama in the Creative and Performing Arts Program at Churchill High School in Livonia, Michigan (fellow alumni include actress Judy Greer and musician Rosie Thomas) and majored in Musical Theatre Performance at Western Michigan University before moving to Los Angeles at 19.
Her early work in Los Angeles included roles in the television series Two and a Half Men, Monk, Will & Grace, The Single Guy, Beverly Hills 90210, and Mister Sterling, among others Forester guest starred in two of the Star Trek spin-offs, playing a dabo girl in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Distant Voices", and Nora in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Horizon".
Her all-American classic beauty landed her in numerous national commercials, including The Olive Garden, Miller Lite, Claritin, and American Airlines. Forester has also appeared in many pilots, including playing the wife of Saturday Night Live"s Chris Kattan in the sitcom Enough About Maine for American Broadcasting Company. After moving to New York City in 2005, Forester booked the coveted contract role of "Cassie Layne Winslow" on Columbia Broadcasting System soap opera Guiding Light, replacing the originating actress, Laura Wright.
In 2010, David Schwimmer cast Forester in his film, Trust, starring Clive Owen and Catherine Keener.
In 2012, Forester filmed season two of "Boss", the Golden Globe nominated drama series on Starz, starring Kelsey Grammer. Forester played "Maggie Zajac," the politically savvy wife of gubernatorial candidate and chronic philanderer "Ben Zajac," played by Jeff Hephner.