MANILA, Philippines?Best known as Lt. Col. Sarah ?Mac? MacKenzie on the show ?JAG,? American actress Catherine Bell moves on to another prime time show, ?Army Wives??portraying a role that?s worlds away from both herself and feisty Mac.

After almost a decade as a ?JAG? lawyer, Bell switches to the opposite side of the fence, as military wife Denise Sherwood on the new ensemble drama that started airing on the Hallmark Channel on May 9.

Although she admits to having an ?independent? streak, Bell has happily settled down with husband of 15 years Adam Beason with whom she?s raising 5-year-old daughter Gemma.

Apart from her TV work, she has also appeared on the big screen, most notably as sexy news anchor Susan Ortega in the comedy ?Bruce Almighty? and its sequel, ?Evan Almighty.?

What is the challenge of portraying Denise on ?Army Wives??

She?s very different from me. She?s a woman who?s living her whole life for her son and husband. I?m pretty independent, so it was a wonderful challenge to delve into that role.

How similar and different are you from her?

She?s also very devoted. She has a huge heart and cares deeply for her family and friends... But she?s dealing with abuse from a family member [at the beginning of the season] and that?s something I will never put up with.

How did you prepare for the role?

I spent some time reading the script, trying to figure it out, doing some background work. Really just breaking down every scene and looking at how this woman would react to what?s happening around her.

How do you make sure that you don?t bring home your character?s darkness, specifically her story of abuse?

That?s not a problem I ever had. For me, acting is a creation. I go, ?Okay, now I?m playing an abused woman.? But when the director yells ?Cut,? I just drop it. I wipe away the tears, run off and play with my little girl.

How did you feel when you heard that it?s now the highest rated program on the (US) Lifetime channel?

I certainly knew that we had something special when I read the script. But it?s great that people actually feel the same way, too.

Why should viewers watch the show?

It?s always magical when the writing, the cast and everything come together. It?s very addictive. Once you start watching, you may have trouble stopping.

What do you miss about ?JAG??

I was on ?JAG? for nine years and we did over 200 episodes. When it ended, it was bittersweet, but it was also time to move on. It was great while it lasted and it?s always something that I hold very close to my heart.

What was it like working on ?Bruce Almighty? and ?Evan Almighty??

They were both fantastic, Jim Carrey and Steve Carell. Jim is the funniest man on the planet... If you ever watch the DVD, look at the outtakes and you?ll see me laughing uncontrollably.

Is it true that you considered yourself a ?geek? as a kid? That you designed a computer game software?

I always joke that if acting doesn?t work out ?(Laughs) I programmed a video game when I was in fourth grade. I designed a parachute on a little pad.

Is it also true that you took flying lessons during the Hollywood writers? strike?

I started to and had just barely gotten around to it... I?ve always wanted to get a pilot?s license since high school. It?s because I love to travel and try new things. I love cars and all sorts of engines. I?m a bit of a tomboy.

?Army Wives? premieres on the Hallmark Channel on May 8 at 9 p.m., with repeats on May 9 at 1 a.m. and May 18 at 3 p.m.

(E-mail: bayanisandiego@hotmail.com)