Friends with Benefits

Jessica Lucas plays the fearless and free-spirited Riley Elliott on NBC's "Friends with Benefits."

Jessica Lucas has quickly established herself as a highly sought-after young actress in film and television. She recently wrapped production on the New Regency comedy "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son," opposite Martin Lawrence and Brandon T. Jackson. As the female lead in the third installment in the "Big Momma's House" franchise, Lucas plays "Haley," a gorgeous and kind singer and composer at the Atlanta Girls' School for the Arts who meets up with Trent (Jackson) first as a boy and later as a girl. The film is set to be released in February 2011. She will next be seen in the NBC mid-season comedy "Friends with Benefits" alongside Ryan Hansen and Danneel Harris. Lucas will star as one of five friends looking for the loves of their lives, but settling for less in the meantime.

Lucas was recently seen in one of the most anticipated films of 2008, J.J. Abrams' "Cloverfield." The sci-fi thriller opened number one at the box office. Her film credits include the DreamWorks romantic comedy "She's the Man" opposite Amanda Bynes and a lead role in the Screen Gems/Lakeshore Film "The Covenant" opposite Taylor Kitsch and Chace Crawford.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Lucas has been acting since she was seven years old. She began her professional training with Children's Theatre Arts and quickly earned theatre credits in local productions of "Snow White & The Seven Dwarves," "Grease," "Cinderella," "The Mousetrap" and the "Music Medley" series. Lucas quickly transitioned to film and television. On the small screen she recently starred as "Riley Richmond," a beautiful inner-city elementary school teacher turned model on The CW's revival of "Melrose Place." Her other television credits include series regular roles on the popular Canadian teen drama "Edgemont" and the short-lived yet critically acclaimed ABC series "Life As We Know It," as well as two much-buzzed-about recurring roles on The CW's "90210," and CBS's #1 hit drama "CSI."