by Jennifer Matos

Dana Delany, (“ChinaBeach”, “Exit to Eden”), came onto the L-Word canvas as “Senator Grisham”, who tried her hand at tempting “Bette” in something out of the Garden of Eden.

Now, there’s news on other Delany past and present projects, some of which may surprise you. This fall, she will be starring in the NBC series “Kidnapped”. She will co-star along with Timothy Hutton (“Ordinary People”). Delany and Hutton will portray wealthy parents whose teenaged son is kidnapped. Jeremy Sisto (“Six Feet Under”) will also star in this series as a member of a law enforcement agency who assists in recovering the couple’s son.

You might be surprised to learn that she was almost cast in another series. In the book, Desperate Networks, by Bill Carter, Delany confirms that she turned down the part of “Bree” on ABC’s hit show “Desperate Housewives”. The Carter publication goes behind the scenes to share information about television networks vying for ratings. As for any regrets in turning down the part, Delany quips “I regret the loss of money.”

Having starred in the drama “Pasadena”, Delany says that the character of “Bree” would have been too much like the characters she has already played. “I got to play all those characters in one person.”

An actress with an eye for exactly the role she is looking for, Delany shared “I’d hate to tell you all the things I’ve turned down.”

At least she didn’t turn down the offer to play “Senator Grisham” on the L-Word. Her steamy scenes with “Bette” had fans sitting on the edges of their couches, white-knuckled.

As for Delany’s opinion of her latest series, she has this to say: “It is a wonderful script by Jason Smilovic. And the cast is unbelievable. Delroy Lindo, Linus Roche and Jeremy Sisto play the leads. The concept is that each season will be a different kidnapping that spills out over 22 episodes. I play the mother of the boy that is kidnapped the first season. I am lucky to have Tim Hutton playing my husband. It is fun to be in New York and work.”

If you can’t wait to see Delany on Wednesday nights this fall, you can catch her on DVD. Delany is the voice of “Lois Lane” on “Brainiac Attacks”, “Superman, the Animated Series, Vol. 3”, and “Justice League, Vol. 2”. These series were set for release on June 20, 2006.