Maura Tierney, a familiar face to television viewers after her four-year role as newswriter Lisa Miller on NBC’s critically acclaimed comedy “NewsRadio,” has shifted to a more dramatic gear on the full-throttle pace of “ER” where she received an Emmy Award nomination for her performance as a former medical student who’s resumed her nursing career in the ER.

Born in Boston, Tierney says she prefers living in New York over Los Angeles -- or for that matter, any other city she’s visited. She has made a habit of travel: she and her husband drive cross-country for fun and adventure and they’ve only missed two states so far (Kansas and Iowa). However, she divides her working time between New York and Los Angeles.

Tierney, who has always been interested in the dramatic arts, attended New York University and Circle-in-the-Square Theatre School. Her stage credits include roles in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,” “The Bald Soprano,” “Baby with Bathwater,” “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea” and “Talking With.”

The young actress had her first starring role on television in Norman Lear’s comedy series “704 Hauser Street.” Tierney’s additional credits include starring in the television films “Out of Darkness,” “Student Exchange” and “Crossing the Mob.” She guest-starred in the series “Growing Pains,” “Family Ties” and NBC’s “Law & Order.”

On the big screen, Tierney starred with Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock in the feature film “Forces of Nature,” opposite Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr. in “Instinct,” alongside John Travolta and Emma Thompson in Mike Nichols’ “Primary Colors” and opposite Jim Carrey in “Liar, Liar.” She recently completed filming “Insomnia” opposite Al Pacino, Hilary Swank and Robin Williams. Tierney will next be seen in “Scotland P.A.,” written and directed by her husband, Billy Morrissette, and also starring Christopher Walken and Tierney’s former “NewsRadio” costar Andy Dick. The film is scheduled for release in February 2002.

Tierney lives in Los Angeles with her husband. Her birthday is February 3.