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Marisol Nichols stars as society belle Heather Cruise on 'GCB.' Photography by John Russo

Belle Curve

by Matt Lee | CS magazine | January 30, 2012

You can’t get much further away from the outrageous landscape of big-haired, big-moneyed, big-mouthed, Bible-thumpin’ Dallas housewives conjured on ABC’s upcoming new dramedy GCB than Rogers Park. But Rogers Park-born Marisol Nichols, who plays “the nicest of the mean girls,” Heather Cruz, on GCB, which debuts March 4, attributes her big break on the series directly to her down-to-earth upbringing in and around Chicago.

“My strength is picking myself back up,” says Nichols, who’s also had major roles on 24 and ER. “For every job I’ve gotten there are a lot I didn’t. But growing up in Chicago, you have a great base: It’s about the work and doing what it takes. In L.A. you can throw a rock and find a pretty girl—so what?”

GCB, which stands for Good Christian Belles, certainly has a lot of pretty women starring in it, including Nichols, Leslie Bibb and Broadway vet Kristin Chenoweth. But don’t be deceived. Produced by Sex and the City’s Darren Star and written by Robert Harling, who penned Steel Magnolias, GCB is set in an off-the-rails version of Dallas society where crafty Texas dames wage unceasing social warfare on one another while hiding behind both the Bible and smiles as fake as their surgery-enhanced bodies.

“The show is great in that it centers around women, but more than that it’s funny,” says Nichols, who now lives in L.A. with her husband and daughter. “It’s like Sex and the City meets Steel Magnolias meets Desperate Housewives.”

She’s even mastered a big Dallas accent. But in real life, Nichols is still far more city than saccharine. “I’m really competitive,” she says, musing on her success. “Don’t play Scrabble with me. I’ll kick your ass.”

Nichols’ Hots
Nespresso, high-waisted jeans, Sofia boutique on Oak, bright skinny belts, Audi, moms, So You Think You Can Dance, education, Tom Cruise, Topshop in Chicago

Nichols’ Nots
Traffic on 290, cheating on spouses, obsession with reality stars, the windchill factor, budget cuts for schools, shoulder pads, Starbucks, no Topshop in L.A.