Lisa Guerrero Coles (Francesca, SUN) knows a lot about men. Born in Chicago but raised in California since age 2, Coles and her brother, Richard, were raised by their father. Later, a half brother, Matthew, joined the mix. This gave Coles as many men to deal with as a girl should have to.

"It certainly takes away the mystery about men," she offers. "My father is actually very maternal and nurturing, warm and loving. My brother is the same way."

Because of the strong relationship with her father, Coles feels she's never had to look for a father figure in a boyfriend. "I've been very independent in my relationships. I look for a partner, not a father or a mentor.

Coles father, Walter, is a social worker with a master's in social services who works for the Salvation Army as a fund-raiser. "We come from a long line of ministers and social workers," Coles explains. "I'm definitely the black sheep by going into acting and sportscasting. But they're all extremely supportive and very proud of me."

Coles feels her closeness with brother Richard was in part catalyzed by the tragedy of their mother Lucy's death by cancer at age 29. She was 8 at the time, Richard was 6. "We bonded in a very deep way," says Coles. "We're extremely close."

Coles' dad rearranged his life so he could raise his children as a work-at-home dad. 'he went to every softball game, music recital, every play," says Coles. "He put me into sports and also a children's theater group to keep me in touch with my emotions. I was a bit of a tomboy, climbing trees getting dirty, but I also played with Barbie."

But while cherishing her Dad, Coles has no illusions about what losing her mom has cost her. "I certainly felt the loss of a female influence in my life - especially in junior high school," she notes. "That's when I really noticed through my girlfriends influence of moms on their daughters. It would have been nice to have a mom to take me shopping, teach me how to do my hair and makeup, all the women things." Coles even admits to looking to several female teachers she had as a maternal role model.

But it was her involvment in sports that would etch her career path. While attending Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA. Coles auditioned to be a LA Rams cheerleader and remained on the squad for four years, eventually becoming captain.

"I used to watch the sideline reporters, all men, and I thought, 'I know the game, I'm used to the environment, I could be a reporter.' At first I thought of print but instead chose on-camera reporting."

On her way to that goal Coles enjoyed several successes, including her gig as entertainment director of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons - the only female and the youngest person ever to hold that post in Falcons history.

But it was in Boston that Coles began her sports-broadcasting career, co-hosting a sports talk show on Sports Channel New England and Sports Radio WEEI. In fact, Coles is still the sports reporter for KCBS-TV in LA, covering all sports, including the Dodgers and Angels.

"I think (sports-mindedness and athletics) are important for woman in business and in relationships," says Coles. "It helps you communicate, break barriers, and the ice at the water cooler! Men will look at you very differently if you talk about last night's game rather than this season's makeup or fashion. It helps put you on even ground."

Coles enjoys acting too, like on SUN, where as the beguiling Francesca, she represents the single greatest threat to the sancity to Caitlin's marriage to Cole, Francesca's former lover. But by no means is this the beautiful redhead's first acting job. Coles' credits include guest roles on Frasier, Cybil, and The Tonight Show in comedy sketches. She's also done - no joke - over 200 commercials.

Of the future, Coles is hoping that within five years she will be married and have a child, "or maybe adopt a child who's lost his/her parents. I definitely want to be a mother. That would complete the circle for me," she says.

And so far, Coles' plans have been right on track.