<i>L Word</I>'s Erin Daniels copes with new fame (11677)

Showtime's lesbian series The L Word is a bona fide hit for the cable network--it was renewed in late-January for another season just 12 days after it premiered. Erin Daniels, one of its stars, is learning how to live with a famous face. "I'm getting stopped more, which is weird for me because I've never been recognized before from anything," the actress says. "I'm not one of those people that gets recognized at all." She plays the recently out tennis player Dana Fairbanks alongside cast members Jennifer Beals, Mia Kirshner, Laurel Holloman, Karina Lombard, Katherine Moennig, Leisha Hailey, and Pam Grier. Adds Daniels: "Like getting a bikini wax and the woman says, 'I know you!' It's like, 'Oh, my God."'

But besides a little bit of fanfare, the show's success has delivered a more special gift to Daniels, whose credits include One Hour Photo and House of 1000 Corpses. "Knowing that I have the job security of another season makes things a lot nicer," she says. "There's no immediacy as far as feeling I have to find another job, which is the actor's plight. Even when you have another job, you are always thinking what your next job is going to be, so this is a nice cushion to say the least. That and not having to audition for pilot season, which is a total gift." Daniels's character on the show is counting her blessings as well. The pro tennis player she plays was worried about how her lesbian lifestyle would affect her career and endorsement deals. "She thought she would have to stay closeted to land a campaign, but she comes out and Subaru knows she's gay, and she's able to do it anyway," explains Daniels, who is also enjoying her new serve-and-volley hobby. "I've been enjoying learning to play tennis, but I play TV tennis--we work on my form more than where my shots land," she says.