WATERLOO - Two paths are converging this year on the campaign trail.

For years, actress Victoria Rowell spent her time off screen raising awareness of issues related to foster care, from the health and well-being of the children to adults taking care of them.

Now, she's lending a bit of her celebrity to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Rowell said in an interview with the Courier Saturday her decision to support Clinton was "organic" because the women have been working very similar issues over the years.

"I believe she's the most capable to sit behind that desk in the Oval Office and hit the ground running," she said.

Rowell, a former actress on The Young and the Restless, said many of the things she now believes are important for the country, like universal health care or foster care reforms, were values held by Clinton.

Rowell said some of those values came to her attention during President Bill Clinton's administration. As Rowell learned more about the Clintons, she identified more with their beliefs.

"There was a simpatico in the discovery every time I dug deeper," she said. "I discovered that the issues were very much not only the ones that spoke for me, but spoke for so many Americans who appeared to be invisible. Certainly I'm part of that population who appeared to be invisible."

This isn't Rowell's first foray into politics. She was actively stumping for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in 2004 in Florida and in her home state of Maine. But, she said she became interested in politics not because of her celebrity, but because of her personal beliefs.

"I only came into politics by being a product of (the U.S. Department) Health and Human services for 18 years," she said.

Rowell grew up in the foster care system, and became a voice for other children involved in the system. In 1990, she created the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan, which helps children through artistic and athletic outlets.

This is Rowell's first trip into Iowa. However, the actress has been crisscrossing the country promoting Clinton's campaign, speaking about her new book, The Women Who Raised Me, and on foster care. She'll be on the road on speaking engagements into 2008.

Rowell was in Moline, Ill., Iowa City and Mason City over the weekend. She's also campaigned in other early primary states, like South Carolina, according to the Clinton campaign.

Rowell is one of many famous faces to come into the state recently during the caucus season, and likely not the last. But unlike some celebrities who have recently raised their political profile, she's never segregated her role as an advocate.

She said while she's been on television in one role or another for 20 years, she's also been out speaking on issues important to her, like education or foster care, for that same amount of time.

"They know that I'm serious," she said. "They know I've been out there for 17 years speaking about issues."

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.