Reiko Aylesworth (b. 9 December 1972) is a contemporary American actress best known for her work on the television series 24.
Beginning her career on the soap opera One Life to Live, she also appeared in Random Hearts , and You've Got Mail. After guest starring roles in Law and Order SVU , Now and Again, and The West Wing, Aylesworth was part of the 2001 series All Souls, which was cancelled during it's first season. In 2002, Aylesworth joined the cast of another series, American Embassy which also failed to gain an audience.
In 2001, Aylesworth had auditioned for the part of turncoat agent Nina Myers on 24 but lost to Sarah Clarke. In 2002, she again auditioned for the role of Kate Warner, but lost to Sarah Wynter. The producers, however, asked her to join the cast as recurring character Michelle Dessler, a CTU agent.
Her character quickly developed a relationship with fellow agent Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard), and became a firm fan favorite.
By the third season, Aylesworth had become a main cast member and, when the writers decided to have major cast change at the end of that season, including the departure of her character, fan forums lit up with people asking for her to stay. In the twelfth episode of the fourth season, Aylesworth returned - Michelle now a high-ranking bureaucrat in the organisation. She will remain through until the end of the season in May, but her future with the show is unknown.
Aylesworth also had a much-publicized guest starring role on CSI which was initially rumored to be a regular role. However, after fired cast members Jorja Fox and George Eads were re-hired, and with the offer to return to 24, Aylesworth's role became just one episode long.
