Actress Cybill Shepherd jumped at the chance to play a lesbian on TV drama THE L WORD because it allowed her to live out her secret yearning to bed a woman. The former MOONLIGHTING star is receiving rave reviews for portraying lesbian PHYLLIS KROLL on the show and admits the role was a bit of a dream come true. She explains, "I have wondered about it (lesbianism)... At various times in my life I wanted to be open to the possibility of having a woman as a lover. "I am not actively pursuing it, but it is not over yet."