Patricia Rae

Patricia Rae toiled in obscurity for close to a decade as a film and TV actress, nabbing bit parts on shows like "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010) and "Third Watch" (NBC, 1999-2005), before landing her breakout role in the 2004 drama "Maria Full of Grace." The film earned universal praise from critics -- even earning an Oscar nod for lead actress Catalina Sandino Moreno at the 77th Academy Awards -- with Rae being lauded for her authentic portrayal of a pregnant woman from Colombia living in small New York City apartment. The unexpected success of "Maria Full of Grace" catapulted Rae into the spotlight, and in the years that followed she appeared in over two dozen film and television roles, most notably with a recurring part on "Chuck" (NBC, 2007-12), as well as a supporting turn in the star-studded ensemble comedy "The Big Wedding" (2013), thus proving her once-stalled acting career had only just begun.