Maxine Bahns

Maxine Lee Bahns (born February 28, 1971) is an American actress, triathlete, and model. She is best known for roles in the films The Brothers McMullen and She's the One, appearing in both as the love interest of her then-boyfriend, Edward Burns, who directed both films. She also appeared, uncredited, as the murdered wife of the protagonist of the television show The Mentalist. Early life Bahns was born in Vermont; the family later moved to Long Island. Her father is German-American and her mother was born in Hong Kong of mixed Chinese and Brazilian descent. She has one sister, Brandy de St Phalle. At age 16, Bahns traveled to Barcelona, Valencia, Paris, and Rome. After returning to New York, she attended New York University, majoring in Latin and Greek language and literature, considering a PhD in classics. Career Bahns attended acting classes at the Beverly Hills Playhouse taught by Milton Katselas and also studied with Ivana Chubbuck. Her big break came when Edward Burns asked her to star in his low-budget film The Brothers McMullen. In 1996, she co-starred in She's the One opposite Burns, marking the couple's last collaboration before their split. In 1997, she made her television debut on the HBO science-fiction/horror series Perversions of Science, guest-starring in the episode "People's Choice". She starred in the 1998 film Chick Flick. In 2000, she co-starred in the made-for-television movie Cutaway opposite actor Tom Berenger, and in three films: the crime/thriller Dangerous Curves opposite actors Robert Carradine and David Carradine; the comedy/drama Vice opposite Bo Hopkins; and the comedy Spin Cycle opposite actress Sarah Chalke. The following year, she co-starred in the film The Elite opposite actor Jurgen Prochnow. In 2005, she was in the direct-to-video horror film Scarred, and guest-starred on an episode of CBS's mystery/drama series CSI: NY episode "Dancing with the Fishes".