This Jackson Heights woman might look familiar to some daytime TV viewers. Celeste was on the soap, "As The World Turns," and appeared as a disgruntled passenger in an airplane who squabbles with the flight attendant.

She landed her first big role as an actor six years ago on "Law & Order." She played a 16-year-old whose father was on trial for murder. She also appeared in "Third Watch" in an episode shot at Court Square, L.I.C. and played a fledgling prostitute on "New York Undercover."

"I would like to do more soaps," said Celeste. If she had it her way, "I would like to play a super sleazy sort of villain." She prefers working on soaps because film schedules are too hectic.

But Celeste gave up the full-time acting gig to be an account executive at Saatchi and Saatchi, an advertising agency. Still, she’ll occasionally go on auditions on her lunch hour.

Celeste was born at Flushing Hospital and raised in Jackson Heights. Her parents moved to Long Island but she stayed for school, getting a degree in human relations at St. Joseph’s College. She attended PS 69 and IS 145.

With a background in jazz and ballet dance, she got a job as a choreographer on "SubTalk," a cable TV show with comedy sketches. Then she got a break and became a regular on the show and stayed on for three years.

Celeste couldn’t live anywhere else in Queens. "I like the fact that the subway is around the corner," she says. Celeste, who lives by Roosevelt Avenue, likes the fact everything she needs is downstairs from her apartment. What she doesn’t like is that there is no parking.

Shopping at Bang Bang or Merva for evening clothes are among her favorite activities. She also loves to go to M&M Bagel to get her sesame bagel with scrambled egg whites.

Then there’s Broadway Bakery for the munchies. "They’re open all night for Italian cookies. They’re great at 2-3 in the morning," she says. She also roller blades along the Cross Island Parkway and sips cappuccino at the Oasis Café in Bayside.

Celeste loves leopard print. Her apartment is completely black and leopard. She lives alone with her cat, who she named after her favorite drink, cappuccino.

And the best part, she’s single and loves to be told she’s beautiful. But sorry, she only dates models.

"I am very picky," she says.

Cynthia Jenkins, a one-time State Assemblymember and life-long political animal, was on the ballot Election Day despite the fact she passed away six days earlier. Jenkins, who was 77, ran on the Independence line against three living candidates for Southeast Queens Council District 27.

Seems strange? Not really. According to Board of Elections rules, once a candidate is on the ballot, death is not sufficient grounds for removal.

The amazing thing is that, based on unofficial Board of Elections results, Jenkins with her 1,881 votes was able to come in second beating Republican Ishmael Morgan (1,677 votes), and Independent candidate Ed McKay (436 votes). She lost to Democrat Leroy Comrie, who captured more than 80 percent of the votes. That means that, from the grave, she was able to claim more votes than 29 other Council candidates throughout Queens, who according to reliable sources, are still alive.

Impressive result? What would have happened if Jenkins had won the election?

Lee Daghlin, a spokesperson for the State Board of Elections, explained that if Jenkins had won, "She obviously wouldn’t be able to assume the seat." However, QConf has noted that some outgoing members have shown similar life on the job. Daghlin added, "So the City Council could do one of two things. They could assign someone to the vacant seat, maybe the second place winner, and hold an early election next November, or they could appeal to the governor for a special election and hold another election sometime before Jan. 1. That’s very rare, though."

Daghlin, unfamiliar with Jenkins, then asked, "Did she win?" The response of "no" prompted him to say, "Good. That would have been a really big problem." What do you know? Even in the afterlife, Jenkins is trying to start trouble.

Third Watch
Comes To Queens

The series, which appears on NBC on Monday nights at 9 p.m., involves police, firefighters and paramedics working closely together.

The afternoon scene being shot entailed blowing up the Deerhead Diner. Special, explosive glass was installed in the diner. There were also canisters ready to shoot out debris . . . pizza boxes, paper . . . along with flames.

"Third Watch" takes place in a fictional neighborhood in Manhattan. Sometimes police on the show will respond to a 911 call on 97th Street and 7th Avenue. The scene will have streets and a building, but if the location actually existed it would be smack in the middle of Central Park.

Recently, many of the "Third Watch" episodes have been shot in Queens.

Elmhurst is blown to smithereens.

Hamill Hangin'

Baby boomer Hamil, younger bro to superstar journalist Pete, walks to the LIRR and finds the commute to his Manhattan office convenient.