- 2005: Joined the cast of "The O.C." (Fox) as a recovering alcoholic who befriends Kirsten
- 2003: Cast in the romantic comedy "Down with Love" starring Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor
- 2001: Joined the cast of "Boston Public" (Fox)
- 2000: Had cameo role as herself (being interviewed by Larry King) in a scene in "Disney's The Kid"
- 2000: Acted in "Wes Craven's Dracula 2000"
- 1997: Became a series regular on NBC's "Dark Skies"
- 1997: Joined cast of "Star Trek: Voyager", playing striking young female Borg, Seven of Nine, a human assimilated by the Borg at a young age; severed from the collective, she must adapt to human society
- 1996: Made radical departure when she guest-starred in two episodes of "Melrose Place" as a lesbian actress who endured a staged marriage to a gay bridegroom
- 1993: Acted in NBC movie "In the Line of Duty: Ambush at Waco"
- 1991: Made TV-movie debut in "Nightmare in Columbia County" (CBS)
- 1989: Won Miss Illinois beauty pageant and competed for the title of Miss America in 1990; won swimsuit competition and placed third runner-up
- 1987: Film debut, a small role in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles"; role cut from final print
- 1979: After father retired from Army, the family settled down in Paducah, Kentucky when Ryan was 11 (date approximate)
- Modeled briefly while attending college
- Moved to L.A. and spent first years portraying ingenues and nice girls
- Appeared on episodes of "Murder, She Wrote" and "Diagnosis Murder", among others




