Question. We're wondering about the real ages of the girls who play the older sisters in "7th Heaven." My mother says the actress who plays younger sister Lucy is really a lot older than the one who plays Mary. — L.E.L., Allen, Texas
Answer. Although she plays the younger sister, Beverley Mitchell (Lucy) actually is older than Jessica Biel (Mary), but just by one year. Biel, 20, pursues her movie career when not working on "7th Heaven." Next month, she begins shooting a sequel to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Mitchell, 21, continues to juggle school and work. She's a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where she studies film. "7th Heaven's" seventh season begins this fall.
Question.Our family is quite taken with Samantha Brown, one of the hosts on the Travel Channel. She can be seen on "Vacation Homes" and "Great Hotels" each morning, and we've begun to plan our summer days around those two shows. She is so refreshing with a wonderful personality. We were wondering whether this is her first venture in television, and we'd also like to know any personal facts on her you can give us. — P.S., Mesquite, Texas
Answer. Brown is a musically trained actress from Syracuse University. She was doing commercials and off-Broadway theater when she was hired to appear as quirky cable TV customer "Wendy Wire" in TV ads for a Los Angeles cable company. A Travel Channel producer spotted her in one of these ads and hired her on the spot. Besides the two programs you mentioned, Brown has also hosted the "Girl Meets Hawaii" series on the Travel Channel. When she's not on the road, Brown resides in New York and is a member of the sketch comedy troupe Mouth.
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