Hot Gallery: Check Out The Good Wife Cast Before the Courtroom

Julianna Margulies (ER, 1994-2009)

Then: The Sarah Lawrence alumna had minor roles on TV before hitting it big as nurse Carol Hathaway on the long-running NBC drama ER. Women everywhere contained their jealousy as they watched Carol’s off-and-on relationship with George Clooney’s Doug Ross. Margulies does seem to luck out with her on-screen loves… most of the time.

Julianna Margulies Good Wife Alicia Florrick Photo

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Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick

Now: The Good Wife premiered as the story of a wife standing by the side of her unfaithful husband. As the series has progressed, Margulies’s Alicia has gotten bolder, with both her personal relationships (Peter-Will-Peter) and professional ones (partnering with Cary!).

Chris Noth (Law & Order, 1990-1995)

Then: Although most women remember him as Mr. Big from Sex and the City, Noth landed his first major recurring role as Detective Mike Logan on the original Law & Order.

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Chris Noth as Peter Florrick

Now: Noth shines as the complex Peter Florrick, disgraced husband and state’s attorney. Although Alicia remained committed to their marriage after his affair with a prostitute, she kicked him out after discovering he slept with someone much closer to them both. Peter and Alicia’s complex relationship is always a highlight of any season.

Josh Charles (Dead Poets Society, 1989)

Then: The Baltimore-born Charles scored one of his first starring movie roles as the lovelorn Knox Overstreet in the classic Dead Poets Society. As one of a group of students inspired by the unconventional English teacher John Keating, Charles acted beside great actors such as Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, and Robert Sean Leonard.

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David M. Russell/CBS

Josh Charles as Will Gardner

Now: Charles has moved from the classroom to the courtroom as charismatic partner Will Gardner. Will pined for his former classmate (and girlfriend) Alicia for years until she finally left Peter and the two briefly embarked on a passionate affair. Needless to say, sans spoilers, things got really sad for Will.

Archie Panjabi Bend It Like Beckham photo 2002

Archie Panjabi (Bend It Like Beckham, 2002)

Then: A popular actress in her native England, Panjabi first came to the attention of American audiences in the international hit Bend It Like Beckham, playing Pinky, the self-absorbed (and very girly) sister of the soccer-playing Jess.

Archie Panjabi Bend It Like Beckham photo 2002 Archie Panjabi Kalinda Sharma Good Wife photo

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Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma

Now: The tough, knee-high-boot-wearing, baseball-bat-wielding Kalinda Sharma is a far cry from many of Panjabi’s earlier roles. As Lockhart Gardner’s top investigator, Kalinda gets the job done while making the men and women swoon. But her relationship with best friend Alicia was forever altered at the end of the second season. We’re dying to know if they can ever be friends again.

Christine Baranski (Cybill, 1995-1998)

Then: Baranski is a multitalented actress who graduated from Juilliard and won two Tony awards before making her mark on the big and small screens. She had supporting roles in films such as Reversal of Fortune and The Birdcage before landing a regular role on the sitcom Cybill in the mid-'90s.

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Craig Blankenhorn/CBS

Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart

Now: Baranski stars as Diane Lockhart, a powerful woman and attorney. As one of the partners of Lockhart Gardner, she’s struggled along with the firm and always fights to win. Audiences (including us) are swooning over her relationship with Kurt.

Alan Cumming (Circle of Friends, 1995)

Then: The Scottish-born Cumming has been a star of stage and screen for years. Women may remember him as the smarmy Sean Walsh in the Irish movie Circle of Friends, in which he starred alongside Chris O’Donnell, Minnie Driver, and Colin Firth. He also starred alongside Gwyneth Paltrow in the film version of Emma and won a Tony award for his role as the emcee in the Broadway revival of Cabaret.

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Craig Blankenhorn/CBS

Alan Cumming as Eli Gold

Now: Cumming is fantastic as PR manager and spin doctor Eli Gold. He helped Peter fix his image and reclaim the state’s attorney job before signing with Lockhart Gardner. Eli's always in the dark about Peter and Alicia’s current troubles.

Matt Czuchry (Gilmore Girls, 2004-2007)

Then: Czuchry starred as Logan, the man whose marriage proposal is rejected by Rory at the end of the much-beloved series.

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David M. Russell/CBS

Matt Czuchry as Cary Agos

Now: As Cary Agos, Czuchry is never without a smug look or a smirk on his face. Formerly an attorney with Lockhart Gardner, Cary is now partnered up with Alicia--starting their own firm.

Mary Beth Peil (Dawson’s Creek, 1998-2003)

Then: Peil started acting late in life, landing a supporting role as Michelle Williams’s grandma (a.k.a. “Grams”) on the popular drama Dawson’s Creek.

Mary Beth Peil Dawson’s Creek photo Mary Beth Peil Jackie Florrick Good Wife Photo

David M. Russell/CBS

Mary Beth Peil as Jackie Florrick

Now: Peil is perfectly cast as Jackie, Peter’s uptight and nosy mother. Constantly irritating her daughter-in-law and grandchildren, Jackie injects some much-needed levity into this drama with her obliviousness.