On the big screen, Shiri appeared in Lawrence Kasdan's black comedy "I Love You to Death" with Kevin Kline, River Phoenix and Tracey Ullman, and had a role in "The Thirteenth Floor." She appeared in "A Time for Dancing" with Peter Coyote, Amy Madigan, and Larissa Oleynik and in a teen movie called "Deal of a Lifetime." She was a cheerleader in Calabassas High and was featured in an article in "American Cheerleader," and has twice graced the cover of "Seventeen" magazine. Shiri attended classes at the University of Southern California where she was majoring in English. She studied ballet, is interested in photography, and does volunteer work for charities. She overcame a childhood fear of animals to appear on 'Emergency Vet' and adopted a kitten.

From the WB Roswell Press packet; thanks to Noseedough

The Character of Liz Parker

In the first season of Roswell, Liz Parker was the heart of the stories, as each of the early episodes was basically told from her point of view. Through voiceovers of her insightful reflections in her diary, she recorded her feelings towards Max Evans and the people and events in her life. Liz has grown up in this small town, in a very sheltered and protected environment, living with her parents, Jeff (John Doe, lead singer of the band X) and Nancy Parker. She has a very warm and close relationship with her dad, although she seems a little more distant with her mother. In "Leaving Normal", we meet Jeff's mother, Grandma Claudia (Carol Baker), to whom Liz is very close - only to have her suddenly die, a tragic event that brings her closer to Max. She lives above the diner her family owns, the Crashdown Café, and works as a waitress after school there. Her room looks out on a balcony, handy for star gazing, studying - or midnight visits from Max. Up until the time that fate intervened and Max saved her life, she enjoyed the sense of having an ordinary life in a very structured world. She is good in school, especially science, and planned to go into molecular biology.

Liz is a complex character, very sweet and kind, but also driven to control every aspect of her existence, as exemplified by her honor roll status and the way she balances school, work, and her friendships. Liz is very smart, sensible, levelheaded and confident. Liz's best friends are Maria DeLuca and Alex Whitman. She is a wonderful and loyal friend, and a warm and giving person. Her carefully planned life is turned upside down by the discovery that the boy who saved her life, Max, is, in fact, an alien.

Liz very quickly grew to return Max's love (he had loved her from afar from the first time he saw her as a child in school). Through her love for Max, and trying to protect him and his secret, she has been forced to abandon the perfectly ordered world she has created for herself, to 'leave normal' and take actions to protect the person she loves. Liz has found herself lying to her parents, sneaking away down 285 South or off to the Indian reservation to help Max and his friends. In "Heat Wave", Liz takes the lead in encouraging the shy Max to move forward with their relationship, refusing to accept that it is too dangerous or they are too different. She unmasked FBI plant Ms. Topolsky and was frightened by the return of the apparently deranged Ms. Topolsky in "Crazy."

Liz also endured the even greater terror of being kidnapped by Nasedo (Jim Ortlieb) - who had assumed the shape of Max. But, even worse, was having Max be taken into custody (at the end of 'Max to the Max') and tortured by Agent Pierce (David Conrad) and the Special Unit of the FBI (in 'White Room'). Liz enlists the aid of Sheriff Valenti, and in "Destiny" she and Max make a daring and frantic escape, pursued by the FBI. Max again vows his love for her, but when his 'destiny' is revealed, that he is supposed to lead his alien race and to be with Tess, Liz runs away crying to leave Max to his duty.

The second season finds Liz has spent the summer away from Roswell visiting an aunt in Florida, while Max has moped around Roswell missing her. Liz returns and takes a job with Congresswoman Whitaker as an intern in her office. Even though she loves Max, she is not ready to take him back, despite the encouragement and meddling of Maria. In "The End of the World", Future Max comes back to tell Liz she must make Max fall out of love with her, in order to change the future and save the world. Liz does this by pretending to sleep with Kyle, although it causes her, Max and Future Max a great deal of pain. The Skins, a new alien enemy, arrive in town, with more fear and uncertainty for everyone. Liz and Max slowly resume their friendship, and Max repeats to Liz his feelings for her - but events so far conspire to keep them apart. Alex's exchange student trip to Sweden rekindles some of Liz's earlier dreams and ambitions and might lead her in new directions this season.

Character sketch by Jerry D.; updated by MyrnaLynne.