A native of Northern California, Roderick always knew she wanted to become an actress. She began her acting career in San Francisco working in a number of independent films and commercials. With newly acquired experience and confidence, she headed for Los Angeles. Within one year, she landed a guest-starring role in the famed Aaron Spelling drama Beverly Hills, 90210.

Luck came Roderick's way once again when she was asked to audition for a small role on Baywatch Hawaii. During Roderick's screen test, executive producer/writer Frank South felt she "hit it out of the park" and gave her the starring role as Leigh Dyer. In addition to her work in Baywatch Hawaii, she has also had guest-starring roles in Just Shoot Me, Jesse and The Love Boat: The Next Wave, in addition to a string of national commercials for products including Snickers, Mentos and Dr. Pepper.

Having only been in the entertainment business for a short time, Roderick has worked steadily in television and film. Already in the can are the feature film Dracula II: Ascension, in which she stars opposite Jason London and Roy Scheider, and the upcoming television movie Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding, which will air in February. Additionally, Roderick's momentum has given her the opportunity to produce and star in an independent film, Miss Castaway, written by Bryan Michel Stoller. Roderick is also exploring her writing skills and is currently putting together her first television pilot.

In 2000, Roderick was selected to appear in April's issue of Playboy magazine and, in 2001, she was named Playmate of the Year.

She attended Santa Rosa Junior College, and always aspired to be an actress. She got her start by making guest appearances on shows such as The Love Boat: The Next Wave in 1998, as well as Beverly Hills, 90210, another episode of The Love Boat, the Christina Applegate sitcom Jesse, in 1999, and Two Guys and a Girl.

brande goes baywatch
In 1998, Brande also starred in the films Sheer Passion, Life of a Gigolo, and Club Wildside 2. But it was in 1999 that she would go from obscurity to fame, as lifeguard Leigh Dyer on the most popular syndicated show of all-time, Baywatch Hawaii.

Brande won the part among hundreds of fellow aspiring Baywatch beauties, and fully convinced the producer that she was the perfect fit for the role.

She starred on the show for a year, and like fellow Baywatch veterans such as Marliece Andrada and Angelica Bridges, Brande moved on to bigger things. Among those things was being named Miss April 2000 in Play.boy's issue of that month.

miss april in bloom
While she does have commercials for Dr. Pepper and Snickers on her resume, Brande aspires to act -- and looks to Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Audrey Hepburn for inspiration.