LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRE's Melissa Gilbert Announces Run for Congress

Melissa Gilbert, best known for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the 1970's TV drama Little House on the Prairie, announced yesterday that she is running for Congress in Michigan.

The actress shared the news on her official website, posting: "I'm running for Congress to make life a little easier for all the families who feel they have fallen through the cracks in today's economy. I believe building a new economy is a team effort and we need to bring fresh voices to the table to get the job done."

Although she has not participated in politics in the past, Gilbert served as president of the Screen Actors Guild for four years. Her opponent in Michigan's 8th district will be Republican Rep. Mike Bishop.

From 1974 to 1984, Gilbert starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the NBC series Little House on the Prairie. During the run of Little House, Gilbert appeared in several popular television films, including The Diary of Anne Frank and The Miracle Worker.

The actress continued her TV career with guest starring roles and animation work for such shows as Batman: The Animated Series. From 2009 to 2010, Gilbert appeared as Caroline "Ma" Ingalls in the touring production of Little House on the Prairie, the Musical. In 2012, she was a contestant on season fourteen of ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

Gilbert served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005. In 2009, her autobiography Prairie Tale: A Memoir, was released. In 2014 she wrote a short story for children, called Daisy and Josephine as well as My Prairie Cookbook: Memories and Frontier Food from My Little House to Yours.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Gilbert official website