Margaret Reed grew up in Salinas, California before entering the University of California at Santa Cruz where she earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts. Margaret then was awarded her M.F.A. from Cornell University. She then toured the U.S. in John Houseman's The Acting Company, playing many different classical heroines. Some of her most notable TV roles were Shannon O'Hara McKechnie on As the World Turns (8 years), Mary Contardi on Seinfeld, Maggie Biederhof on HBO's Mildred Pierce, many roles on the various Law & Order shows, and Dr. Serova on Star Trek, TNG. Films include four in current (2014) production "Silenus," "By the Dashboard Light," "Written in Stone," and "Song of Solomon."