Spotlight On: Erica Durance

While currently best known for portraying Lois Lane on the long-running CW series Smallville, Erica Durance started her television career quietly enough in 2002 taking a small role in the film The Untold which starred Lance Henriksen. Perhaps due to her stunning beauty and ready wit, Erica soon was making her way up the television ladder with a quick succession of roles in the television films 111 Gramercy Park which co-starred Peter Strauss, Joe Flanigan and Michael Trucco, Devil Winds with Joe Lando, and The Bridge with Aaron Douglas. She also appeared briefly in the television series The Chris Isaak Show and Tru Calling.

Erica Durance as Lois Lane

It was while appearing as a beauty contestant in the series Tru Calling, that Erica auditioned for the role that would consume the next six years of her life – Lois Lane. But as the role on Smallville would only be as a recurring character, Erica managed to sneak in a few more roles before the year was done. She also appeared that same year as a guest star in Andromeda with Kevin Sorbo and Stargate SG-1 with Richard Dean Anderson. The sci-fi realm was quickly claiming Erica as one of its own.

However, being ambitious and driven, Erica was never content to stick with just the sci-fi genre work and found the time to work on a variety of film and television projects during her 6 year tenure on Smallville. She appeared in the film The Butterfly Effect 2 with Eric Lively and Dustin Milligan, I Me Wed with Paul Popowich, and Beyond Sherwood Forest with Robin Dunne and Julian Sands.

She has also had the good fortune to meet and work with David Palffy, her husband, on three different film projects, which included House of the Dead, Beyond Sherwood Forest and the upcoming film The Building. Another familiar face is Kevin Sorbo with whom Erica currently co-stars in the film Sleeping with the Lion, which is a story about a group of stranded survivalists due out later this year.

But, as any Smallville fan knows, Erica not only managed to steal the heart of the Man of Steel, she has won over the hearts of the fans as well. Coming into the series in its 4th season, she has not only had the tough job of filling the iconic shoes of Lois Lane, she has had to persuade the fans that she was the rightful heir of Clark Kent’s affections. But due to her resilient enthusiasm, no-holds barred attitude, jaw-dropping physique and deft ability to portray drama laced with comedy, Erica has made the role of Lois Lane distinctly her own. It is a role that she clearly relishes and for this generation of Superman fans, she is Lois Lane.

Smallville‘s season finale airs tonight at 8/7c on the CW.