Actress Patty Heaton has spent the last four years starring opposite comedian Ray Romano on the CBS sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond. She plays Ray's TV wife, Debra Barone, and has just finished shooting the season finale for the show. 

On Tuesday's edition of The Early Show she gave us a little hint at what's in store for the Barone family. 

Having spent four years on Everybody Loves Raymond, Heaton has her own ideas on how to further develop her character. She portrays the "straight guy" part on the show to comedian Ray Romano's wacky character, a task she says it is quite important and challenging. 

As Debra, she has her ups and downs, but Heaton is excited to be part of the sitcom and hopes to stay at least another three or four years. But who could blame her, she's had many memorable comic moments with Romano and for the show's first two episodes of the fall season she'll be in Rome as the Barone family takes a vacation. 

FAST FACTS ABOUT MS HEATON 

* Born on March 4, 1958 in Bay Village, Ohio. She is the daughter of Chuck Heaton, sportswriter for the Cleveland Plain. 

* She attended St. Raphael Catholic grade school in her hometown and went on to pursue a career in acting in New York, under famed instructor, William Esper. 

* Heaton made her Broadway debut in the gospel musical Don't Get God Started. 

* Along with fellow students, she formed an acting company to produce plays off-Broadway. Her performance in their production The Johnstown Vindicator that opened the doors for her in Los Angeles. 

* Television series such as Room for Two, Someone Like Me, CBS's Women of the House and a recurring role on Thirtysomething soon followed.

* Heaton had her fourth son, Dan, during Raymond's third season. She and her husband, David Hunt, have recently formed the production company Four Boys Films. They will be focusing on theatrical releases and movies of the week, along with theater. 

* In 1999, 2000, 2001 Heaton was nominated for an Emmy as Best Actress in a Comedy Series.