Tasha from L Word is investigated for homosexual conduct under the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy

"Attitude? There's a lot more to Tasha than her `attitude,'" Rollins says of the smoldering, secretive soldier she plays on "The L Word."

Then Rollins laughs loudly, passionately.

It's a laugh that may well be in short supply on the upcoming fifth season of the Showtime series, premiering 9 p.m. EST Sunday, when Tasha is investigated for homosexual conduct under the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

"Tasha definitely comes to a crossroad," Rollins says during a location shoot at Venice Beach. "She will have to re-evaluate her life."

A captain in the Army National Guard and a decorated Iraqi war veteran, Tasha has remained in the closet throughout her military career.

"Her chances of staying in the military are not good," says executive producer Ilene Chaiken. "The only way someone like Tasha can stay in the military, under the `don't ask, don't tell' policy, is to be completely closeted and say, `No, I am not gay. These are lies being told about me.' And once charges have been brought, it becomes harder and harder to prove that (they're lies)."


Tasha quickly fell for out-and-proud Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey), who runs a lesbian Web site, after accidentally injuring Alice in a brawl.

As the relationship deepened, Tasha was cautioned by her commanding officer for openly engaging in homosexual conduct. Meanwhile, Alice and Tasha argued bitterly about the war.

On the season premiere, Tasha begins the process of being discharged from the military.

As the season progresses, Alice is used as evidence against Tasha in a two-episode arc featuring Kelly McGillis ("Witness," "Top Gun") as Col. Gillian Davis, a by-the-book military lawyer.

"Alice ends up on the stand (at Tasha's hearing)," Hailey says. "That's when you see Alice in her full glory. She's not ashamed to speak out. She's not afraid to put her foot in her mouth. She's not afraid to be out of the closet."


As always, stormy relationships drive "The L Word" this season, from Bette (Jennifer Beals) and Jodi's (Marlee Matlin) contentious love connection, to Shane's (Katherine Moennig) infamous hook-ups.

A former model, Rollins never had qualms about playing the tough girl on "The L Word."

"It's my comfort zone. I hold a lot of things in. I'm careful with what I say, especially to people who don't know me well. I will seethe, I will boil, and then I will explode — if needed," she says. "And I think Tasha has a lot of that. But I am a pretty level-headed person overall and so is my character."

Ask Rollins what the future holds for Alice and Tasha and she laughs her signature lion-roar: "Does anyone not see the connection between the two of us?"

"Alice gets me to loosen up," Rollins says. "She aids me in realizing what it is I'm fighting for — not the soldier but Tasha as a woman, first. When you don't think we stand a chance, maybe we do. It is a good relationship."