Shortly after Thorne-Smith left her role as Alison Parker on FOX's nighttime soap Melrose Place after five seasons, producers of a new comedy called Ally McBeal asked her to join the ensemble cast of attorneys as Georgia Thomas, the wife of Ally's ex-flame. One hit season after pouncing on the offer, the Los Angeles-based actress, who is currently single, is basking in her good fortune and newfound respectability. "The perception of the shows is so different," says Thorne-Smith, 30. "I used to get `You're so pretty' from people when I was on Melrose Place. Now I get asked legal questions. People speak to me as if I'm intelligent now."
