Julianna Margulies was a New York theater actress when she took what was supposed to be a one-shot gig on a new hospital drama, ER. But the personable actress and her character, nurse Carol Hathaway, clicked with the producers, who added her to the cast as the on-again/off-again love interest to George Clooney's roguish pediatrician, Doug Ross. The chemistry between the two performers was incendiary, helping to propel the series to the top of the ratings heap. ER made Clooney an out-and-out star. For Margulies, the role of Hathaway led to critical accolades, including an Emmy award, two Screen Actors Guild awards, and a truckload of nominations. Her success in the show allowed her the freedom to walk away from it and the promise of a multimillion-dollar payday when her contract came up for renewal.