Michael Michele was born Michael Michele Williams in Evansville, Indiana, the elder of two daughters. Her father, Jerry, is Caucasian, and her mother, Theresa, is African American .[citation needed] Her father is an entrepreneur and business consultant and her mother is a corporate manager.[citation needed] In high school, Michele was active on the volleyball, basketball, and track teams. She has a son Brandon (born December 21, 2004) with boyfriend Jimmy Rodriguez.

Michele appeared in music videos, some of which were by R&B crooner Freddie Jackson. Michele is known for her role as Dr. Cleo Finch on the television series ER from 1999-2002 and her role as Det. Rene Sheppard on the final season of Homicide: Life on the Street. She also had a starring role in the short-lived television series Kevin Hill and a recurring role in New York Undercover. Michele played the role of Veronica Porsche Ali in the 2001 film, Ali. She appeared in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, that aired in early 2007. She also appeared in two episodes in the fourth season of House as a doctor who had previously worked with the CIA.

On March 14, 2009 Michele appeared in the Hallmark Channel original movie, Relative Stranger, with fellow ER cast member Eriq La Salle.