by Brittany Geragotelis

As a teen, Liz Parker was full of secrets. She was in love with an alien (the extra-terrestrial kind) but couldn’t tell anyone about who he really was, otherwise it meant government experiments and autopsies for him and his three alien friends. Pretty serious stuff for a high school student. Actress Shiri Appleby’s world may have been shrouded in mystery when she got her big break playing Liz in the teen drama “Roswell” back in 1999, but a few TV series later and over a decade of growing up has left the California native older and much wiser.

She now plays Cate Cassidy on “Life Unexpected,” a 30-something radio personality who’s reunited with the daughter she gave up as a teenager. For Shiri and her co-stars, the next big twist is always right around the corner. “It’s really surprising how much heart this show has,” says Shiri. “Every week I read the script and I’m really proud that I’m part of a show that’s putting out a positive message.”

From a cheerleader at Calabasas HS in Woodland Hills, CA, to a successful actress, Shiri has managed to transform herself into a thoughtful, caring and graceful woman, despite the roadblocks life has thrown her way. Fortunately for Shiri, years of navigating the Hollywood jungle and being in the public eye have shown her that one thing’s for sure: You’ve got to expect the unexpected.

Even though we’ve practically seen her grow up on TV, we’re betting there are a few things you don’t know about this starlet. Here are five “unexpected” things about Shiri:

She’s an avid journal keeper.

“I tape all my airline tickets into my journals and now have hundreds of them in there. And I love cutting out great quotes from magazines and newspapers that reflect what I’m going through at the time.”

She believes in taking time off to find yourself.

Shiri and the rest of the "Life Unexpected" cast.

“I wanted a break from carrying a show after ‘Roswell’ ended. I needed to figure out who I was as a person. I was 23 and didn’t really have any friends, because I’d been working like crazy. And all my experiences were confined to starring on a television show, which isn’t real. I needed to make friends, date and just see who I was, so when I went back to work again, I’d have my own personal experiences to draw from. Because without that, what are you really talking about in regards to the human condition?”

She doesn’t feel like a grown-up yet.

“I don’t feel like I’m on a teenage show. I feel like I’m on a drama that’s dealing with what it’s like to grow up. And I feel like we’re always growing up. I talk with my mom about it, and turning a certain age for her feels like she’s growing up. And that’s what our show is really about—becoming a better version of yourself.”

She gives herself room to grow.

Shiri in her HS cheer days.

“I never imagined that I’d be living in Vancouver. Last season was kind of difficult for me. I didn’t know how to manage my [new] life and my work, when I was away from my [regular] life. I spent a lot of my hiatus trying to work my way around it mentally. Now I’m finishing my college degree online, going home on the weekends and figuring out ways to stay in touch with my friends. It’s all really scary and you sort of want to give up, but you realize that the unexpected things in your life are presented to you to give you opportunities to grow.”

She’s adopted a Zen attitude.

“Women especially feel the need to be perfect. And I’m trying to kill that idea. The other cast members are really valuable for this. Kerr [Smith] is a lot calmer and flies a lot more under the radar than I do in terms of the way he behaves. He’s always like, ‘Just pull back. Things are going to work out.’ And so I’ve realized over the past few months, if I just pull back, things are still going to work out, I’m going to have a better time at work and people are going to like me more.”

Photo Cred: The CW/Jack Rowand; The CW/Richard Phibbs

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