Kellie Martin first came into pop-culture consciousness on "Highway to Heaven" and "Father Murphy."

After guest appearances on the underrated "Charles In Charge" and "thirtysomething," Martin seemed destined for a career as the cute young girl with pluck. It wasn't until "Life Goes On," where she performed the brave and politically correct action of falling in love with an HIV positive boy (Chad Lowe), that Kellie Martin became America's darling.

She was the quintessential girl-next-door - cute, smart, with a great big heart and tons o' gumption. In real-life, the native Californian took the time to work with the Pediatric Aids Foundation, take college-prep classes and manage her career.

UltimateTV charted the rise of this young star from "Life" through her many TV movies and series - "Christy," "Crisis Center" until her grand entrance on the king of dramas, NBC's "ER."

It had begun to look like Martin was on the road to dethroning Tracey Gold, Lindsay Wagner and the "90210" girls as reigning queen of the TV movie, with more than a dozen to her name, including "Hidden In Silence," "Her Last Chance," "Her Hidden Truth," and the latest, "About Sarah."

All along however, Martin was trying to make a series work.

Her first stab after four years as Becca Thatcher in ABC's "Life Goes On" (1989-1993) was as a 19th century teacher in a poor mountain community in 1994's "Christy," a drama along the lines of "Little House On the Prairie." Despite being lauded by those who embrace family fare, the show lasted just one season on CBS. "I felt like it was a very well done show that never found it's niche," Martin stated in a Lifetime chat last year. "It just wasn't the right time..." The drama now makes its home on Pax TV.

Then came NBC's drama, "Crisis Center," sort of a less interesting, more warm 'n' fuzzy "ER." In this, Martin starred as Kathy Goodman, one of the earnest workers at a busy San Francisco assistance center. The show was canceled less than a month after it debuted in February, 1997.

NBC didn't forget Martin, who spent her time attending Yale University as a history-of-art major and making NBC's "On the Edge of Innocence," which she co-produced.

"ER" really got a ringer with Martin, 23, who spiritually takes over the role formerly inhabited by Noah Wyle's Dr. Carter - that of the wide-eyed child growing up amidst the chaos of the hospital.

Her first introduction, in fact, sets up her neophyte status: as a third-year med student she has the right intentions as she attempts to help an old man who's fallen, but in executing her task as doctor, she raises his neck - a mistake that's pointed out by several onlookers. Oops.

There isn't a doubt that like Carter, Lucy Knight will grow as a doctor and a human being. We can also hope for some romantic sparks between the two.

With more than ten Websites and news groups dedicated to her, Martin already has a fanbase, one which can only grow as 20 million watch her weekly on TV's hottest drama.