Los Angeles, CA -- A writer for the hit drama," C.S.I.," has the courage of her convictions -- and a real conviction to boot.

Ethlie Ann Vare spent her early adult years in the slammer for drug charges stemming from hashish possession but has managed to parlay that experience into a successful career as a TV writer for shows like "Six Feet Under" and "C.S.I."

Vare never intended to publicize her criminal past but decided to do so after her agent told her it would actually be a selling point with producers.

In fact, her criminal record came in handy earlier this year when the "C.S.I." producers wanted to do a show about life in a women's prison and needed realism.

In her words, "I told them that female prisoners have no access to a beauty parlor so I didn't want to see any inmates with hair extensions."

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