Kelley Cherishes ‘L.A. Law’ Part

What could possibly persuade a commitment-phobic film actress to wed herself to a regular TV series?

For Sheila Kelley, it was the chance to explore a “cerebrally challenging” role--a role too juicy to pass up.

“I wasn’t going to commit at all, but this character is so incredibly seductive, she seduces me as well as anybody else,” she says.

Kelley is describing Gwen Taylor, who came to “L.A. Law” last year as secretary to divorce attorney Arnie Becker. Gwen proved to be such a match for the womanizing Arnie that Kelley has become a regular cast member.

“I love this character,” says Kelley of Gwen. “I want to play more women like her. There’s a fascinating dominance-submission game going on with her and Arnie. There’s something very steaming, very smart about her.”

Kelley, a Pennsylvania native who has worked in seven feature films in the past five years, including “Soapdish” and “Pure Luck,” plays a different sort of character in Cameron Crowe’s upcoming film “Singles.”

“I play a Cosmo girl, kind of a media baby, who has flaming red hair and wears bright, effusive colors,” she says. But unlike Gwen Taylor, this character is on a quest for inner identity.

Kelley also admits to being almost nothing like Gwen--at least in terms of stability. “She’s more of a tree trunk with roots, and I’m like a fluttering leaf,” she says. “In a hurricane.”