<P> Bree Weston (née Mason, previously Van de Kamp and Hodge) is a fictional character and one of the four protagonists on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives . She is played by actress Marcia Cross, who has received multiple awards and nominations for her portrayal, including an Emmy Award nomination, three Golden Globe Award nominations, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards . Cross' portrayal of Bree has been widely praised by critics and fans . </P> <P> Cross originally auditioned for the role of Mary Alice Young, but series creator Marc Cherry thought she was better suited for the role of Bree . Dana Delany, who eventually was cast as Katherine Mayfair, was originally chosen for the role but turned it down, saying it was too similar to her role in Pasadena . Bree's main struggle throughout the series has been her attempts to maintain a perfect life despite various obstacles such as widowhood, divorce, and alcoholism hindering her . She has been married three times; to Rex Van de Kamp (Steven Culp), Orson Hodge (Kyle MacLachlan), and Trip Weston (Scott Bakula). </P> <P> Bree Van de Kamp is one of the four main protagonists in Desperate Housewives . Bree grew up in Rhode Island when her father married a woman named Eleanor, after her mother's death, with whom she did not get along . In order to escape her stepmother's demands, Bree left for Lake Forest College near Chicago . Bree also mentioned on one of Eleanor's visits that she had to work for every kind word she ever was given from her step - mother . Bree met Rex Van de Kamp at a meeting of the Young Republicans . After they graduated, they married and had two children, Andrew and Danielle, and moved to Fairview . </P> <P> Bree is recognized for her perfectionist attitude and work ethic, which at times border on neurosis and obsessive--compulsive disorder . While the writers have shied away from an official diagnosis, the character is recognised as suffering from obsessive--compulsive personality disorder . The character herself refers to her "quirks" in terms of anal retentiveness but Rex once mentioned it by the name . Bree's perfectionism may stem from when her mother was killed in a hit and run: a 10 - year - old Bree cleaned her blood off the road outside the house . She said that once everything was spotless, she felt much better . </P>

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